As we take up self-determination this week, how should we understand the Scottish referendum last week? (Here is a funny but quite informative video explaining the Scottish referendum to non-Brits). Were there international law issues at play?
The answers may come into stark relief if we compare the Scottish example (thinking through, for instance, what would have happened if the YES side had won), with that of Catalan in Spain, which is preparing to hold a referendum later this year. What are the differences? What are their significance from an international law perspective? What does the Quebec Secession Reference have to say about either case?
UPDATED: Meanwhile, in China a moderate human rights scholar and activist was just sentenced to life in prison for "seperatism", for advocating the right of self-determination for the Uighur people, and secession of the Xinjiang region in Western China.
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