It seems a peculiarity of modern capitalist civilisation, that wherever one looks one sees
squares everywhere! Just as this piece of paper, the screen and keys it was typed on are
square, so are the borders of countless states around the globe, cutting through
autochthonous communities separating cultures or forging them into a state [society]
often lacking their prior consent. It is not without fateful irony that, for instance, the table
on which the fate of the African people was decided during the Berlin conference in
1884-85 at which the [still prevailing] borders of colonial Africa were demarcated was:
Square! Square people with square minds made square decisions. However,
contemporary claims of many indigenous peoples who are as diverse and irregular as the
world they exist in continue to challenge the plane polygon geometry of the arbitrary and
artificially constructed artefact of territorial sovereignty by demanding recognition of
their, partial or full self-determination. Thus questioning the moral legitimacy of
sovereign states and the international society [of states].
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction: Definitions & Methodology
- II. An unfinished journey: From fourteen points to forty-five articles
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the concept of self-determination within the framework of modern international society, focusing on the complex relationship between sovereign states and indigenous peoples. The author utilizes a morally permissible definition of self-determination, emphasizing the inherent right of peoples to decide their own governance. The paper delves into the historical evolution of self-determination, highlighting its limitations and challenges in the context of indigenous claims. Additionally, it critiques the moral legitimacy of states as a modern social construct, examining the role of national identity, capitalism, and the concept of sovereignty in shaping the rights of indigenous groups.
- The historical evolution of the concept of self-determination within the international system
- The moral ambiguity of self-determination in relation to indigenous claims
- The moral legitimacy of sovereign states in light of indigenous aspirations for self-determination
- The influence of national identity and capitalism on the recognition of indigenous rights
- The need for a redefinition of sovereignty to accommodate the claims of indigenous peoples
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by introducing the concept of self-determination and its application to indigenous peoples. It explores the historical trajectory of self-determination, tracing its origins back to Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and its evolution through the League of Nations and the United Nations era. The author critically analyzes the limitations of self-determination as a concept, particularly its tendency to reinforce statist structures and disregard the distinct claims of indigenous groups. This first part of the paper sets the stage for the second part, which dives deeper into the moral legitimacy of sovereign states as a modern construct. The author argues that the concept of national identity and the dominance of capitalism create an environment that often marginalizes indigenous voices and prevents them from fully realizing their right to self-determination.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper explores key themes such as self-determination, indigenous rights, sovereign states, national identity, capitalism, and the moral legitimacy of international society. The paper challenges the traditional understanding of sovereignty and explores alternative frameworks for understanding the relationship between states and indigenous peoples.
- Quote paper
- Jan Lüdert (Author), 2006, Ethics and Culture: Indigenous People and the concept of selfdetermination, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/90022
