By the force of arms: violence and morality in secessionist conflict

Aleksandar Pavković*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    How does a group acquire the right to secede from an existing state? This is the central question that contemporary normative theorists of secession-including Christopher Wellman in this volume-address. The question I address in this chapter is quite different: can the use of military force in order to achieve or to prevent a secession be justified on moral grounds? Even if a group does have a right to secede, this does not necessarily imply that it is morally justified to use military force and to kill people in an attempt to secure secession or independence. Whether or not there are rights to independent statehood, one can still ask, is independent statehood worth the sacrifice of human life and the misery that attends any military conflict?

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSecession as an International Phenomenon
    EditorsDon H. Doyle
    Place of PublicationAthens, GA
    PublisherUniversity of Georgia Press
    Pages259-276
    Number of pages18
    ISBN (Electronic)0820337374
    ISBN (Print)9780820330082
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'By the force of arms: violence and morality in secessionist conflict'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this