Introduction

From 1947 until the 1970s, new states were, with few exceptions, created out of overseas colonies governed by European metropolitan states. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores various aspects of gaining statehood through secession; hence its title ‘On the Way to Statehood’. Unlike decolonisation, secession involves the withdrawal of a territory which forms part of a sovereign state. The book explores different aspects of secession from the point of view of legal theory and practice, international relations, political science, comparative politics and applied political theory and ethics. It raise, first, the question of whether this practice will continue, in its present form, in spite of the increasing global intermixing of cultures and decreasing relevance of territorial borders. Second, it explores what political and ethical obligations this practice generates for both established governments and secessionist movements.