ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on liberal and socialist theories to assess the progressive dimensions of cultural autonomy, including the promotion of a fairer distribution of national resources and the expanded range of political opportunities for pursuing one's cultural way of life on the local and transnational level. It argues that Marxist internationalism needs to be seen as an important source of ideas for theorizing about the progressive dimensions of cultural autonomy. The chapter examines the role of cultural rights and the equality of minority groups in Otto Bauer's theory of the nation. It investigates the relationship between a fair share of national resources and secessionism, by assessing the contributions of Rosa Luxemburg, Vladimir Lenin, and Bauer to the Marxist national question. The chapter develops a contemporary perspective on Bauer's theory by analyzing his constitutional initiative and its relevance to European Union (EU) law and democratic sovereignty.
