VLADIMIR CHIZHOV

Most nations, although committed to popular sovereignty, have laws against small sections of their nation deciding to secede and become part of a border nation. Whether or not a small minority of a nation may separate without a total national referendum has been a political dilemma for countries for years. If a larger portion of the country were in the plebiscite, they would have voted to stay in the Ukraine. While most nations agree that people should have the right of self-determination, there is no agreement on what unit of “the people” can decide. In most pluralistic nations, there are always smaller areas whose political views differ from the majority of the country. Should one near a border be allowed to vote to join the border nations? Most nations have said no.

Most nations, although committed to popular sovereignty, have laws against small sections of their nation deciding to secede and become part of a border nation. Whether or not a small minority of a nation may separate without a total national referendum has been a political dilemma for countries for years. If a larger portion of the country were in the plebiscite, they would have voted to stay in the Ukraine. While most nations agree that people should have the right of self-determination, there is no agreement on what unit of “the people” can decide. In most pluralistic nations, there are always smaller areas whose political views differ from the majority of the country. Should one near a border be allowed to vote to join the border nations? Most nations have said no.