Russia self-determination

There is new movement in the discussion about self-determination and statehood. The contested declaration of independence by Kosovo will soon be subjected to review by the International Court of Justice. Russia s recognition of the purported independence of Abkhasia and South Ossetia has caused additional controversy. These developments may well put an end to the attempt by governments to keep in place the highly restricted doctrine of self-determination that has only been made available in the colonial context. 

Of course, many populations in other circumstances claim to be disenfranchised or suppressed. They will argue that they too have been subjected to colonialism. However, they are excluded from application of the concept. For example, Chechnya argued that it was forcibly incorporated into Russia during the period of imperialism and colonially exploited. Nevertheless, its claims to colonial self-determination were simply brushed aside on the international stage. Some politicians in Kosovo were tempted to make a similar argument in relation to Serbia. Again, this... 

We, the multinational people of the Russian Federation, united by a common fate on our land, establishing human rights and freedoms, civic peace and accord, preserving the historically established state unity, proceeding from the universally recognized principles of equality and self-determination of peoples,. .. reviving the sovereign statehood of Russia,. .. 

At a time in which the United States lacked a clear position on the definition of the self determination of peoples and was somewhat confused over Chechnya s right to secede, it rushed to defend Russia s territorial integrity, asserting that Russia had the right to protect its own borders. ... 

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