Partition, secession and peace in our time

This paper deals with the comparative issues of partition and secession,both as territorial issues and as problems of sovereignty, focussing on thestate system. The democratic principle of national self-determination isrecognised by the international community but is unequally and cynicallyapplied, designed to protect the existing system of states. Partition,division, and secession, may heighten tensions between the parties andgreatly magnify the extent of any future conflict, by creating new sovereignstates. The weakening of the nation-state within its own borders by forces ofglobalization unleashes intensely nationalist sentiments, increasinginstability within the state, and to partition or secession which, in turn,further destabilize the interstate system.