Secession and sovereignty

Costanza Margiotta

Chapter 14 in Research Handbook on the Law and Politics of Sovereignty, 2026, pp 237-252 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The chapter explores the complex relationship between secession and sovereignty, distinguishing it from the principle of the self-determination of peoples. It highlights how secession represents both a crisis and a reaffirmation of sovereignty, as it aims at the creation of a new sovereign state rather than a different political order. The analysis traces the origins of both concepts, emphasising how self-determination – particularly in the context of decolonisation – has been harmonised with state sovereignty, while secession, perceived as a threat to territorial integrity, remains in tension with international law.

Keywords: Secession; International law; Decolonisation; Self-determination; State sovereignty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803926346
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