Week III: Reading questions

Hurst Hannum, The Specter of Secession, Foreign Affairs, Mar/Apr 1998

Niall Ferguson, A War to Start All Wars, The Atlantic, Jan/Feb 2007
- Do you understand the following terms?
o Secession-action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body,
especially a political state.
o Self-determination-the process by which a country determines its own statehood
and forms its own allegiances and government.
o Sovereignty-supreme power or authority
o Territorial integrity- the principle under international law that nation states should
not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in
other nations
o Ethnic wars- an armed conflict between ethnic groups. They highlight the inherent
tension between self-determination and sovereignty/territorial integrity.
o Civil wars-a war between citizens of the same country.
- Is sovereignty an absolute right? Why or why not?
No because it is limited not only by the rights of other states and the political and economic
ties that bind them, but it is also limited by a legitimate international interest in human
rights, the environment, and other issues formerly considered the sole jurisdiction of the
state.
- Is self-determination an absolute right? Why or why not?
No because it is not by the international community.
- What is the source of tension between sovereignty and self-determination?
Ethnic wars and the vagueness of these terms.
- What role does military might play in settling questions of ethnic wars?
It can establish control over a particular territory, but it cannot create international
legitimacy.
- Under what conditions should the international community give serious consideration to
the idea of self-determination?
If human rights are being infringed upon, if there is violent conflict, safeguarding individual
liberties
- What are some problems that arise out of the creation of ethnically based states?
It can alienate certain groups of people.
- What risk does a civil war pose for international politics?
It can alter borders
- How should that risk be addressed?
Reccognizing and accommodating conflicting rights is the only way to respond.