Self Determination

Question 0

National self determination includes:

Answer 0

• Self-government
• Autonomy
• Independence
• Sovereignty
• Nation-statehood

Question 1

Self determination means…

Answer 1

• The power to control one’s own affairs

- The power of people within a nation-state or nation to make their own decisions about what is in their interest

Question 2

Why do nations pursue self determination?

Answer 2

Self-determination means the nation can choose it’s own political status and determine it’s economic, cultural, and social development

Question 3

What defines a people or nation?

Answer 3

• A common history
• Racial or ethnic identity
• Cultural homogeneity
• Linguistic unity
• Religious or ideological unity
• Territorial connection to a particular territory
• National self-identification

Question 4

Patriation means:

Answer 4

Bringing legislation under the authority of the country to which it applies

Question 5

What does national self-identification mean and why does it present a problem?

Answer 5

It means that the nation is in charge of itself, the right of self-determination is the right of allowing a people to choose their own destiny

This presents a problem because…?

Question 6

Nations can achieve self-determination by…?

Answer 6

• Acts of revolution or war
• Decolonization
• Successor states
• By referenda
• By third-party processes

Question 7

Decolonization means…?

Answer 7

• when imperial powers grants independence to their colonies
• dates back to the 19th century ( Canada’s independence from Britain is an example)
• A process by which a nation can achieve national self-determination
• Also a contemporary phenomenon

Question 8

Successor states means…?

Answer 8

• When large nations break into smaller states
• When USSR broke up, the 15 Soviet republics declared themselves new independent states
• Global community officials officially recognized new states by establishing diplomatic relations with them (Ex. Ukraine, Latvia, India/Pakistan/Kashmir)

Question 9

Referenda to pursue self determination examples:

Answer 9

Quebec:

• in 1980 and 1995 Quebec sought sovereignty-association with Canada through referendum
• an effort to create politically independent nation that was still tied to Canada economically
• Quebecers voted through a referendum

Question 10

Third party involvement in self-determination means…?

Answer 10

• negotiations, dialogue, and creation of legal agreements through consensus
• third party involvement, like the U.N., can result in agreements for national self-determination between sides
• process rarely has international force for resolving the matter, conflict often arises – NO TEETH TO BACK IT UP
• ex. Western Sahara