Internal Economic Self-Determination

Internal economic self-determination means to freely pursue one s economic development. 

As with political self-determination, there are some minority rights that directly address issues of economic concern, while other rights only indirectly support economic self-determination of minorities see Fig. 10.2. 

The number of overlaps is lower than for political self-determination. In addition, the overlaps directly addressing economic self-determination are very limited. Also, they do not directly give minorities and independent role in the economy, but 

While it is thinkable that a minority could establish a parallel economy to the majority society, it seems much more obvious that minorities also participate in the larger context where they are located. Thus, economic self-determination for minorities is difficult to conceive by itself. In connection with political self-determination, economic self-determination begins to make more sense however, still remains somewhat weak. Again, there is an overlap between minority rights with an economic dimension and internal economic self-determination without the two being congruent. 

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See the major international documents UN Charter, ECHR, ICCPR, ICESCR. Art. 25 ICESCR and art. 46 ICCPR on natural resources are argued to be part of economic self-determination. "See Sect. 9.2.1. 

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Article 1 Right of self-determination... 

Of course, classically, self-determination has been defined as the right of peoples freely to determine their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development.In practice, the application of this provision had been severely contextually reduced, in both its external and internal dimensions. As was noted at the outset, external self-determination in the sense of secession would appertain only to colonial peoples defined by prolonged colonial administration within uti possidetis boundaries. Internal self-determination would address both the constitutional system of public authority and the right of democratic participation in governance. However, it was simply presumed that any constitutional system and structures of governance were, merely by virtue of their existence, the product of free determination by the people concerned. Internal self-determination was therefore, until quite recently, practically irrelevant. 

Self-determination is also mentioned in art. 55 UNC on international economic and social co-operation. It is stated that stable conditions are a means of achieving friendly relations based on respect for the right to self-determination. Important in this relation is art. 56 which obligates the member states to implement art. 55. 

CERD General Comment The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has adopted a General Comment on self-determination even though the Convention does not mention self-determination. The Committee points out that self-determination has an internal and an external aspect. Internal self-determination concerns the economic, social and culmral development while external self-determination means freely determining the political stams. ... 

European Organizations European organizations are mostly quiet on the issue of self-determination. The Final Act of Helsinki includes the principle of self-determination however, this is one of the very few times self-determination is mentioned in non-binding instruments of the OSCE and the Council of Europe. Principle Vin of the Final Act stresses that all peoples always have the right... to determine their internal and external political status. A couple of things need to be noted. This principle clearly takes self-determination out of the colrmial context. Secondly, self-determination is limited to the political sphere. There is no reference to economic, social and cultural development. 

Decolonization in practice regarded the colonies as black boxes without considering the possibility of several groups within each colony. The aim was to establish new states. The internal aspect of self-determination was taken into account as far as the free pursuance of economic, social and cultoral development is concerned. The free pursuance must include participation. Participation is open to... 

Just as self-determination is often equated with political self-determination, economic development is often discussed under the general headline development. The United Nations are concerned with development, though it is development aimed at states and not at peoples as self-determination demands. Economic development touches on the system as such through the participation of the state in international economic organizations and in particular the power over one s own natural resources. The free disposal over natural wealth and resources is mentioned in art. 1 (2) ICCPR. The Human Rights Committee has stated that this is a particular aspect of the economic content of the right to self-determination. Art. 2 of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States lists the economic freedoms a state has. The article explains economic state activities however, it does not explicitly address economic development. Art. 7 places the prime responsibility for economic development on the state. Art. 1 firmly places decisions on the economic system within the state in accordance with the will of the people no interference or coercion fi om external actors may take place. 

Internal self-determination seeks democratic processes. Self-determination is not a concept to be invoked once and never again. Internal self-determination focuses on processes. This mainly derives from the description of determining the economic, social and cultural development. Self-determination is a continuing right. It means to include all those wilUng to participate. It does not mean that everyone participating will always receive what is claimed. Self-determination means being taken seriously. Internal self-determination places aU this within the framework of the state. 

At the same time, traditional international law is challenged. The self in self-determination is reinterpreted. The what of what does the self determine is subjected to closer examination. Here, the content of self-determination, especially the economic, social and cultural development receives due attention. These dimensions are often only treated with insufficient detail and care. An alternative... 

Both the Charter of the United Nations and several subsequent UN documents identify the moral right of all peoples to self-determination. The United Nations was created in part to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples. UN resolution 1514, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reiterate that all peoples have the right to self-determination and that by virtue of that right they freely... 

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