Skip to main content

Self-determination: Principle of Action or Impracticable Charter

Image


Table of Contents

Why the Initiative of Self-determination?

The Latin phrase ‘ius cogens’ (meaning ‘compelling law’) is a fundamental principle of international law that is accepted as a norm by all member states of the United Nations (UN) and cannot be suppressed by any power.

The principle of self-determination is a charter of the UN that states that a people, community, or nation has the right to choose its political identity, form of government, the exercise of sovereignty, and independent external relations with no interference. 

The UN is charged with the burden of interpreting the charter’s principle. As such the principle of self-determination is one of those compelling laws.

Why the Initiative of Self-determination?

It was a response to curb the authoritarianism of the era and enthrone equality, liberty, and freedom. The idea began with the American and French revolutions in the 18th century. Shortly after WWI, Woodrow Wilson conceived the idea of self-determination as a roadmap for redrawing European and world maps and putting in place a new understanding and a just world. Then after WWII, it became a charter of the UN and a legal right under international law. Ever since its adoption by the UN, it saw the decolonization of countries formerly held under dominion by European nations and latterly, the independence of the colonies.

Today, the principle is applied and interpreted by groups fighting or struggling within a state for autonomy or independence for reasons of consequences. In this age, there are hundreds of nations, groups, and people seeking autonomy or independence. One can ask: What is the role of the UN in those matters? Is self-determination a principle of action or just an impractical charter?

UN should do more. It should be proactive in dealing with nations or people crying for freedom or seeking autonomy. They should be listened to and understood. I think it will make for a better and more peaceful world. It may even help curtail the rate of migrations all over the world and reduce the power and control of despots. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Early Contacts between Christianity and Islam

Table of Contents Early Contacts between Christianity and Islam Monk Bahira The Migration to Axum Kingdom Christianity and Islam have always been two noxious bedfellows and yet always proclaim and wish peace on earth. It would not be a crass assumption to state that the two religions have over the centuries crossed paths and re-crossed paths many times. Crossing paths might have been in their ideologies, conflicts, doctrinal interpretations and even sharing some physical spaces. Therefore, in this brief writing, we will explore the early contacts between Christianity and Islam and see how they have influenced each other. Early Contacts between Christianity and Islam The early contacts between Christianity and Islam were not short of frames.  According to Kaufman et al., “frames are cognitive shortcuts that people use to help make sense of complex information.” They are means of interpreting our world and perhaps, the world of other people around us.  Such interpretations helpe...
2 comments
Continue reading »

The Connection between a Personal Name and Name Groups in Shawnee Social Organisation

Table of Contents Shawnee People The Divisions The Name Groups and Personal Names I’m always attracted to and interested in the culturally distinct and characteristic elements of different traditions or societies. Reading about the Shawnee people of Native American tribes is no different. I immediately fell in love with the linkage between Shawnee name groups and personal names. The name groups seem to present the Shawnee as a one-descent group with five major divisions. To examine this connection between a personal name and name group, a brief description of Shawnee will help in understanding the Shawnee social organisation. Shawnee People The term ‘Shawnee’ written in different forms ( Shaawanwaki, Shaawanowi lenaweeki, and Shawano ) is Algonquian like the archaic term ‘ shaawanwa ’ meaning ‘south.’ Thus, the term ‘Shawnee’ is (pronounced shaw-nee ) meaning the ‘southern people.’ The Shawnees are categorised as Algonquian-speaking North American Indian people whose pristine ho...
Post a Comment
Continue reading »

The Mace’s Vision: Universal Design, Inclusive design and Design for all

Overview Writing about universal design implies tracing back to the origin of the concept. In the 1970s, architect Ron Mace came up with the idea of universal design. Taking from his lived experience, as a wheelchair user, he understood the difficulties faced by people with disabilities as they try to move around buildings, roads, and public transport systems to mention but a few. He came up with the term “universal design” to characterize the importance of creating products and services that are beautiful, usable, and enjoyable by everyone, regardless of ability, age, or status in life. To continue his work, in 1997, The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University expanded Mace’s vision of the importance of designing inclusive environments for everyone. Universal design aims to create inclusive and equal access to resources, technology, or spaces for all users. How inclusive is universal design? To answer this question, we must examine the overall effect of...
Post a Comment
Continue reading »