ABSTRACT
During the last decade a large number of nations have sought to secede. In the Baltic region Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have declared independence. In Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Hercegovina all declared independence. Furthermore, on 1 January 1993 the Czechs and Slovaks dissolved their union and formed two independent states. Moreover, in other states there are secessionist movements who have not attained what they seek. Some French-speaking Québécois, some Scots and a small number of Basques and Catalans demand self-determination. In this article I want to consider whether nations should be allowed to secede. To answer this question I shall begin by considering whether national self-determination is defensible and then ask whether this justifies national secession.1
