A Theory of SecessionFirst published in 2005, A Theory of Secession: The Case for Political Self-Determination offers an unapologetic defense of the right to secede. Christopher Heath Wellman argues that any group has a moral right to secede as long as its political divorce will leave it and the remainder state in a position to perform the requisite political functions. He explains that there is nothing contradictory about valuing legitimate states, while permitting their division. Once political states are recognized as valuable because of the functions that they are uniquely suited to perform, it becomes apparent that the territorial boundaries of existing states might permissably be redrawn as long as neither the process, nor the result of this reconfiguration, interrupts the production of the crucial political benefits. Thus, if one values self-determination, then one has good reason to conclude that people have a right to determine their political boundaries. |
Contents
Acknowledgments page ix | 1 |
The Case for Statism | 6 |
Valuing SelfDetermination | 34 |
Lincoln on Secession | 65 |
The Truth in Nationalism | 97 |
Political Coercion and Exploitation | 128 |
Secession and International Law | 157 |
The Velvet Transformation | 181 |
| 187 | |
| 197 | |
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Common terms and phrases
account of political Allen Buchanan allow annexation Antonio argue argument Barbara Bathsheba Buchanan chapter citizens claim coerce coercion and exploitation compatriots conationals conflict consent consequentialist constitutional constitutionally cultural David Miller defend democracy democratic deny deontological deontological reasons disrespected Drowning Offer duty equal recognition euthanasia existing explain favor Feinberg freedom of association functional theory govern group autonomy group self-determination harm principle impermissible impermissibly important incentives individual autonomy instance international law Joel Feinberg justice justified Kai Nielsen legitimate liberty Lincoln majority minority moral rights nationalist principle objection one's option peace perform the requisite Pleasantville plebiscite political coercion political divorce political legitimacy political self-determination Poorlanders position primary rights problem prohibit protect reasons to respect recognize require requisite political functions Richland right to secede rights to political samaritan secessionist rights separatist Serbs slavery South's state's statism suggest Sunstein territory theorists theory of secession unilateral union value of group vote wrong wrongly Yugoslavia