Autonomy, Sovereignty, and Self-Determination

Hurst Hannum is a Professor of Law at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He has been counsel in cases before European and Inter-American human rights bodies and is a member of the boards of Minority Rights Group International (London) and the International Service for Human Rights (Geneva). Hurst Hannum is the author or editor of numerous books and articles on international law and human rights and serves on editorial advisory boards of Human Rights Law Review and Human Rights Quarterly.

• Acknowledgments1. Introduction 32. Sovereignty, Statehood, and Nationalism 143. Self-Determination 274. The Rights of Minorities 505. Indigenous Rights 746. Human Rights 1047. Hong Kong 1298. India and the Punjab 1519. The Kurds 17810. The Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua 20311. Northern Ireland 22612. The Saami (Lapp) People of Norway, Sweden, and Finland 24713. Spain-The Basque Country and Catalonia 26314. Sri Lanka 28015. Sudan 30816. Federal or Quasi-Federal Structures 337-Eritrea (1952-1962)-Greenland-Netherlands Antilles-Switzerland (1848-1874)-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics17. Territories of International Concern 370-Aland Islands-Free City of Danzig-Memel Territory-New Zealand-The Associate States of the Cook Islands and Niue and the Territory of Tokelau-The Saar (1920-1935)-The Saar (1945-1955)-Free Territory of Trieste18. Other Situations of Interest 407-Belgium-Indian Peoples in Brazil-China-Fiji-Italy-the South Tyrol-Malaysia19. Conclusion 453Recent Developments 479Postscript 495Selected Bibliography 509Index 515

"With the end of the Cold War, ethnic conflict appears to be reemerging as subnational groups fight to be heard and represented. Hence the value of this well-researched volume. Focusing on individuals and groups rather than states, the author searches for means of accommodating conflicting claims. Government legitimacy is seen as resting on more than simple majority rule, on respect for human rights and the effective participation of all the various segments of society in the decision-making process." (Foreign Affairs) "A very useful, comprehensive, and important contribution to the study of international relations, international law, and comparative politics. . . . Impressive." (Choice) "A right of autonomy within international law might help resolve intrastate conflicts between ethnic groups before they escalate into civil war and demands for secession. So Hurst Hannum argues in this excellent book. . . . These are important suggestions about how to use a flexible approach to sovereignty and the right to ethnic self-determination to create a just and ordered multination-state system." (Political Science Quarterly) "This valuable volume chronicles the issues that arise from disputes over minority rights when the state is seen to represent majority groups better. . . . Must reading for scholars interested in the legal dimension of minority conflicts with the state. It should also be required reading for the leadership of nations currently confronting such issues or international actors who could be helpful in resolving them." (American Political Science Review) "A remarkable treatise." (American Journal of International Law) "Hannum has long combined scholarship with involvement in the making of practical policy. The present work displays this most useful combination of perspectives." (Journal of Asian and African Affairs)