ABSTRACT
Within the field of international relations, an important aspect of the study of ethnic conflict is the interrelationship between the international normative regime (universally recognized norms, rules, procedures, and principles of behavior within the international system that govern the interstate system and membership in that system) and ethno-political movements. It is worth noting in this context that while the international system is anchored by the principles of national self-determination and state sovereignty, the international normative regime has remained strongly biased against ethno-nationalists, who usually invoke these same principles to justify their movements. In this chapter, we analyze why the international normative regime is biased against ethno-nationalists, identify the main moral arguments that are advanced by ethnic groups to justify their right to secede from an existing state, and explore whether it is possible for the international community to devise a set of criteria that could be used to evaluate different ethnic groups’ secessionist claims.
