Legal Definitions - Self determination (international law)

Self-determination is a legal right that allows people to decide their own future in the international community. It is a fundamental principle of international law that is recognized in many international treaties and agreements. The United Nations Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both protect self-determination as a right for all people.

The meaning of self-determination has changed over time. In the early 1900s, many countries supported the idea that all people should have the right to self-determination. This led to successful movements for independence and decolonization in the 20th century.

Today, self-determination can be divided into two types: internal and external. Internal self-determination refers to political and social rights, while external self-determination means that a group of people can legally become independent from a larger country. Examples of external self-determination include Kosovo's independence from Serbia and Abkhazia's independence from Georgia.

However, the principle of self-determination can conflict with the principle of uti possidetis juris, which requires maintaining traditional legal boundaries to preserve stability and order. This conflict is illustrated in the case of Burkina Faso and Mali, where the right to self-determination clashes with the need to maintain territorialstatus quo.