SOURCE:
“How Self-Determination Shaped the Modern World” by 2024 Council on Foreign Relations
“Whereas many world leaders openly called for the breakup of empires, few are willing to endorse the breakup of modern countries. Indeed, the United Nations’ founding charter explicitly discourages it. The fact that so many modern countries face internal divisions means few governments are eager to embrace the creation of new countries abroad. Countries fear that supporting self-determination abroad could set a precedent that leads to the unraveling of their borders.”
“Though the age of empires is over, millions around the world still call for self-determination. They argue that governments continue to deny certain groups of people basic rights and the opportunity to determine their political futures. Rather than mostly European empires, today’s subjects of scrutiny are now often the governments of countries that emerged through decolonization.”
“Decades ago, the United Nations readily endorsed self-determination. The UN proudly oversaw the creation of dozens of new countries when the empires that ruled overseas colonies waned. But today the pace of country-creation has dramatically slowed. “
“One reason for that reluctance is that self-determination competes with sovereignty, another central UN tenet. Sovereignty gives a government domestic authority, but self-determination undermines that authority. Self-determination can only occur by potentially taking territory and people away from a country. The United Nations is hesitant to endorse the breakup of modern countries. Moreover, governments are hardly eager to support the creation of new countries in the face of their internal divisions.”
“Only three new countries—East Timor, Montenegro, and South Sudan—have joined the United Nations this century. So why have most modern self-determination movements failed to achieve their goals?”
