The Fight Over Freedom in 20th- and 21st-Century International Discourse : Moments of ‘self-determination’

This book shows how international discourse citing ‘self-determination’ over the last hundred years has functioned as a battleground between two ideas of freedom: a ‘radical’ idea of freedom, and a ‘liberal-conservative’ idea of freedom. The book examines each of the major moments in which ‘self-determination’ has been a central part of the language of high-level international politics and law: the early 20 th century discourse of V.I. Lenin and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the aftermath of the First World War and the formulation of the UN Charter, the 1950-1960s UN debates on ‘self-determination’, and the 2008-2010 International Court of Justice case on Kosovo’s declaration of independence. At each of these moments in history, ‘self-determination’ was at the top of the international agenda. And at each moment, a fight over the meaning of freedom played out in ‘self-determination’ discourse. Besides providing insights into the historical times in which self-determination was prominently cited internationally, the book offers a recasting and renewal of international debates on freedom in international discourse. "From the battle between V.I. Lenin and Woodrow Wilson to contemporary debates over Kosovo and other states in the making, the idea of "self-determination" has been as elusive as it is powerful. Augestad Knudsen's study of its trajectory is unprecedented not merely in its chronology leading almost up to our own times, but in its conceptual depth and subtlety, reminding us that the meaning of concepts emerges and evolves at pivotal moments in their history."--Samuel Moyn, Professor of Jurisprudence, Yale Law School, Professor of History, Yale University, New Haven, USA 'This highly original book combines a history of events ("moments") with conceptual history. It is a significant contribution to understanding the politics and international law of a century: the century of national self-determination.' - John Breuilly, Emeritus Professor of Nationalism and Ethnicity, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UK This book shows how international discourse citing 'self-determination' over the last hundred years has functioned as a battleground between two ideas of freedom: a 'radical' idea of freedom, and a 'liberal-conservative' idea of freedom. The book examines each of the major moments in which 'self-determination' has been a central part of the language of high-level international politics and law: the early 20th century discourse of V.I. Lenin and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the aftermath of the First World War and the formulation of the UN Charter, the 1950-1960s UN debates on 'self-determination', and the 2008-2010 International Court of Justice case on Kosovo's declaration of independence. At each of these moments in history, 'self-determination' was at the top of the international agenda. And at each moment, a fight over the meaning of freedom played out in 'self-determination' discourse. Besides providing insights into the historical times in which self-determination was prominently cited internationally, the book offers a recasting and renewal of international debates on freedom in international discourse. Rita Augestad Knudsen is a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Security and Defence Group, Norway. She is the Managing Director of the Consortium for Research on Terrorism and International Crime 'From the battle between V.I. Lenin and Woodrow Wilson to contemporary debates over Kosovo and other states in the making, the idea of "self-determination" has been as elusive as it is powerful. Augestad Knudsens study of its trajectory is unprecedented not merely in its chronology leading almost up to our own times, but in its conceptual depth and subtlety, reminding us that the meaning of concepts emerges and evolves at pivotal moments in their history. - Samuel Moyn, Professor of Jurisprudence, Yale Law School, Professor of History, Yale University, New Haven, USA 'This highly original book combines a history of events ("moments") with conceptual history. It is a significant contribution to understanding the politics and international law of a century: the century of national self-determination. - John Breuilly, Emeritus Professor of Nationalism and Ethnicity, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UK This book shows how international discourse citing 'self-determination over the last hundred years has functioned as a battleground between two ideas of freedom: a 'radical idea of freedom, and a 'liberal-conservative idea of freedom. The book examines each of the major moments in which 'self-determination has been a central part of the language of high-level international politics and law: the early 20th century discourse of V.I. Lenin and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the aftermath of the First World War and the formulation of the UN Charter, the 1950-1960s UN debates on 'self-determination, and the 2008-2010 International Court of Justice case on Kosovos declaration of independence. At each of these moments in history, 'self-determination was at the top of the international agenda. And at each moment, a fight over the meaning of freedom played out in 'self-determination discourse. Besides providing insights into the historical times in which self-determination was prominently cited internationally, the book offers a recasting and renewal of international debates on freedom in international discourse. Rita Augestad Knudsen is a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Security and Defence Group, Norway. She is the Managing Director of the Consortium for Research on Terrorism and International Crime Acknowledgements 5 Contents 7 1 Introduction: ‘Self-Determination’ and Ideas of Freedom 9 The Liberal-Conservative Idea 12 The Radical Idea 15 Capturing ‘Self-Determination’ 18 Moments of Self-Determination 20 One Hundred Years of ‘Self-Determination’ and Ideas of Freedom 23 2 Lenin, ‘Self-Determination’ and the Radical Idea of Freedom 41 Lenin and the Socialist Debate on the National Question 41 Lenin’s Opponents: The ‘Autonomists’ 44 Lenin’s Opponents: The ‘Rejectionists’ 48 Conditioning Self-Determination 49 Freedom as Equality 52 Lenin’s Discourse and the First World War 55 3 Woodrow Wilson, ‘Self-Determination’ and the Liberal-Conservative Idea of Freedom 73 Context and Criticism 74 The Fourteen Points 77 Freedom as Peace and Non-Interference 78 Wilson’s ‘Self-Determination’ and Popular Sovereignty 80 Wilson’s Internationalisation 83 Regrets and Tensions 84 Wilson’s Self-Determination in Practice 90 ‘Self-Determination’ Recast 93 4 ‘Self-Determination’ Enters International Law 108 Post-First World War Self-Determination: Radical Calls, Liberal-Conservative Responses 108 Albania 109 The Aaland Islands 112 The United Nations Charter 120 5 Defining ‘Self-Determination’, Disagreeing on Freedom 140 Common Ground 143 Against ‘Self-Determination’ 146 Western Dilemmas, Maturity and Self-Determination 150 Self-Determination and Radical Freedom 154 A Definition of ‘Self-Determination’? 155 6 In Court: ‘Self-Determination’ and Freedom in the ICJ Case on Kosovo 179 Historical and Legal Background 180 The Emergence of the ICJ Case 184 Debating ‘Self-Determination’ at the ICJ 187 ‘Internal Self-Determination’ 187 Sui Generis and ‘Remedial Self-Determination’ 190 Independence and International Statebuilding 194 The Final Word 197 7 Conclusions: The Fight over Freedom at Moments of Self-Determination 216 Ideas in Contention 216 Agents in Contention 219 Self-Determination ‘Selves’ and Freedom Today 222 Index 229 Front Matter ....Pages i-viii Introduction: ‘Self-Determination’ and Ideas of Freedom (Rita Augestad Knudsen)....Pages 1-32 Lenin, ‘Self-Determination’ and the Radical Idea of Freedom (Rita Augestad Knudsen)....Pages 33-64 Woodrow Wilson, ‘Self-Determination’ and the Liberal-Conservative Idea of Freedom (Rita Augestad Knudsen)....Pages 65-99 ‘Self-Determination’ Enters International Law (Rita Augestad Knudsen)....Pages 101-132 Defining ‘Self-Determination’, Disagreeing on Freedom (Rita Augestad Knudsen)....Pages 133-171 In Court: ‘Self-Determination’ and Freedom in the ICJ Case on Kosovo (Rita Augestad Knudsen)....Pages 173-209 Conclusions: The Fight over Freedom at Moments of Self-Determination (Rita Augestad Knudsen)....Pages 211-223 Back Matter ....Pages 225-241