The Definition Of Self-Determination In The United Nations

Self-determination is a process of national consciousness by which a group of people choose their own government. The principle of self-determination refers to the right of a people to determine their own political destiny. Self-determination as a political force in international society is a relatively recent phenomenon. As a political principle this idea evolved as a result of the doctrine of nationalism which was presented by French and American revolutions. In aftermath of World War 1 and breaking up of the Ottoman Empire and Austro Hungarian empires the national groups demanded divide of territory, WW1 Allies accepted self-determination as a peace aim. President Woodrow Wilson presented the concept of self-determination in his fourteen points but failed to use it as a term.
After World War II, League of Nations was formed that recognized the principle but United Nations made it its chief gal and it also carried it as clearest statement and affirmation of it. The UN Charter clarifies two meanings of the term self-determination. Firstly, a state will have the right of self-determination in the sense of having the right to choose independently its political, economic, social, and cultural systems. Secondly, the right to self-determination is defined as the right of a people to constitute itself in a state or otherwise freely determine the form of its association with an existing state. Both meanings have their basis in the charter (Article 1, paragraph 2; and Article 55,