Discussion: Justification of Secession

With the secession (and subsequent annexation by Russia) of Crimea the morality and justification of secession has again come to the fore. Ukraine is a weak democracy as we discussed in Democracy in Retreat. It's elected leader was essentially bribed by Russia which lead to popular unrest and essentially a coup and prompted Putin's advance and eventual secession of Crimea. For the most part (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26618950) the referendum seems popular with over 90% voting in favor of secession.

But when is a group or region morally justified to secede? The Declaration of (American) Independence calls for the right of a land of diverse people to secede from what it saw as oppression. However, the United Nations (http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/gashc3708.doc.htm) recognizes the right of ethnic groups to secede in the face of human rights violation.

Ilya Somin (http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/03/07/crimea-and-the-morality-of-secession/) doesn't think this applies to the situation in Ukraine, and not surprisingly so does Foreign Affairs (http://www.cfr.org/ukraine/why-crimean-referendum-illegitimate/p32594). But interestingly, how do the principles from Ukraine apply to say Chechnya?

For a short introduction to the political philosophy of the idea check out this link (http://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/politics-policy-people/politics/nationalism-self-determination-and-secession/content-section-0), and for an in depth philosophical study, here's something (http://www.stanford.edu/~tomz/working/secede.pdf) more voluminous (does any name in the acknowledgement sand out?)

This should be a very interesting discussion, hope you can join us.