Separatism in a globalising world... does it make sense?
 
Throughout the world there are countless nations that do not have the opportunity to exercise the “right” to self-determination. In the case of Kosovo, some warn that independence would create a dangerous precedent in international law, since it would in effect condone ethnic and border adjustments according to ethnic composition. In other countries, such as Spain, United Kingdom or even Israel, ethnic minorities have also used violence in their struggle for independence... Some find this acceptable, some don’t.  

What is your take on this? Do you believe all nations should have the right to their own state? Can violence be condoned in the struggle to achieve independence? Are larger states justified in refusing independence to minorities?

Civilized Tools for a Civilized World 

The issue of self determination is being discussed a lot in my country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. My opinion is that it is not possible for all minorities to have their own state, but large countries should give them their rights. As long as both sides respect each other and have there rights recognized there is no reason for a conflict. In the case of my country, it is clear that one territory can not be ethnically clear and that we need to live together, understand and support each other. After a terrible war, people see that all the fighting was not worth and that in multi ethnical societies there is no other way but living together.

There is a bright example of the Danish Minority who live in the north of Germany, who have their members of the parliament, their schools, TV, radio stations  and other rights as citizens. This is a great example of how one minority can live normally in a large country and that mutual trust and respect brings good results for all parties. I have been personally convinced that violence can not help in struggle for independence and that it brings only bad things and long lasting consequences; in today’s civilized world we need to use civilized tools for solving our problems and that would be dialog and non-violent communication. All the parties involved should also be ready to accept compromise which would ensure a fair solution and avoiding of a conflict. Every solution is better than making a conflict and victims, and each issue can be solved if there is enough will and understanding. Tatjana, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Civil Society vs. Nation States?

One must not forget the basic principle of self determination which gave way to the creation of tens of nations worldwide - especially in the last 20 years. However, it is important to limit the basic principle of self determination in order to have a stable community of nation states in the fairly well functioning UN system. Therefore it is important to strive for multicultural states with a focus on civil rights rather than homogenous states with group and /or ethnic rights. Civil society is for me the basis of democratisation - and that should constitute the basis for self-determination. The defragmentation of Yugoslavia is obviously not in line with my opinion above - does this make me a nostalgic or simply a naïve Belgian which lives in a democratic country with divided communities - some even striving for self-determination! Gabriel, Belgium

National Sovereignty Revisited

There is a surprisingly clear parallel between what happened in Czechoslovakia in 1938, and what happened in Yugoslavia in 1999.

As Sudetenland Germans (the border areas of Czechoslovakia were densely inhabited by Germans), so Kosovar Albanians felt no loyalty to their state and plotted to destroy it. Both had their armed militia and pro-secessionist political representation. In both cases these groups enjoyed backing of the overwhelming majority of their community.

As Germans in 1938, so Albanians in 1999 provoked central governments into action by putting forward humiliating demands, which, if accepted, would have led to the destruction of their respective state. The central governments firm "no" would serve as a facade reason for German and Albanian revolutionary attempts. Both were suppressed. And everyone knows that it is not possible to crush an armed revolution, be it against the Brown Shirts or the UCK, with no casualties.

Both Germans and Albanians were backed by the "international community." In 1938, Germany, Italy, Britain and France bullied Czechoslovakia into giving up Sudetenland, the land inextricably linked to the history of the Czech nation. The principle of regional self-determination, and I stress the word regional, was favoured over the principle of national sovereignty.

The Allies later apologised for the Munich Treaty, which deprived us of Sudetenland in 1938. They acknowledged that our national sovereignty should be untouchable. Till this day, it is enough to mention a word Munich and the Brits blush (okay, only the educated minority...). Yet in 1999 it seemed that noone learnt a lesson. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that making concessions to intolerant and target-driven minorities only encourages them. Is our memory that bad, or is it just selective? Tomas, Czech Republic