ABSTRACT

In the de-colonial context of the 19th and 20th centuries, the realization of self-determination became strongly linked to the creation of sovereign states. However, as the legal and theoretical discussions concerning the right to self-determination have shown, there are many different ways in which the right can be implemented, such as cultural autonomy, territorial self-governance and independent states (Alston 2001; Bring 2002; Cassese 1995; Crawford 1988; Hannum 1996; Kirgis Jr 1994).