Self determination is a principle derived from liberal ideals of freedom and sovereignty. It was developed as a core principle of international law in the mid-19th century. It is a right that affirms a community or nation’s ability to decide their own future, and claim statehood. Self determination, though, has typically only protected powerful states. Marginalized nations are often ignored in international conversations of sovereignty. Indigenous communities in the Americas, for example, have fought for years for their own sovereignty, claiming their right to self-determination. 

At its conception in international law in the mid 1800s, the right was only extended to territories controlled by an established state (i.e colonial territories), but not territories within a state’s borders (Fisch 2015). This stipulation neglected the reality that foreign powers had stolen peoples’ land and established independent states on that land. Essentially, self-determination did not protect any group of people within an “established” country’s borders, even if the group demanded independence. As a result, the right to self determination has done little to protect indigenous people whose land was stolen and is controlled by the United States. 

Historical conceptions of self-determination—as with most other liberal rights and principles—have frequently ignored the rights of marginalized groups (i.e. those with limited political or financial power). Self determination has always been called into use by people with less power, but it often fails to protect them. The most renowned champions of self-determination (such as Vladimir Lenin and Woodrow Wilson) controlled states that were in reality violently opposed to Indigenous and peasant sovereignty. Its modern use has extended to communities and groups smaller than states, acknowledging every group’s right to decision making power. However, even today self-determination tends to protect established states with strong liberal institutions and significant military power. Despite this, it can still be a powerful tool used by marginalized groups to promote sovereignty and independence. In order for self determination to be a viable principle for thriving, each group’s distinct conceptions of self-governance must be considered (Climate Justice Alliance 2018).

Labor Unions

Self-determination has been invoked by liberal and right wing nationalists, but also by organizers of the labor movement (Fisch 2015). Workers who formed unions recognized that their corporate owners have significant power over their lives and livelihoods. Workers have, for the past two centuries, organized unions to gain more bargaining power and autonomy over their superiors for the fruits of their labor.

Indigenous Sovereignty

Indigenous sovereignty in the Americas is a particular form of self-determination that is rooted in Indigenous resistance to colonialism (Delucia et al. 2021). It takes many forms, given the diversity of Indigenous culture in the region. It began with retaliation against the violent settlement and displacement of Indigenous peoples by European colonists that occurred beginning in the 16th and 17th centuries. Since then, there has been an ongoing struggle between Indigenous groups and the colonial state. Oftentimes, native groups and coalitions were reluctantly made to sign treaties that granted settlers the right to land.

The Indigenous struggle for sovereignty continues today. Modern Indigenous sovereignty focuses on decolonizing legal systems, government and culture, and granting Indigenous groups the ability to govern themselves and reclaim their territories (Delucia et al. 2021). Beginning in the 1970s, many existing Indigenous groups sought to challenge native tropes and the continued economic and political subjugation of Indigenous nations. Participants in the Red Power Movement protested the onslaught of unjust political action by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. Indigenous groups continue to battle a legal system that is founded on the assumption that European colonizers have a right to native land.

For more information on the complex history of Indigenous sovereignty see this article by the Organization of American Historians

Food sovereignty

Food sovereignty is another movement that draws heavily on self-determination. The following quote is part of a declaration by the attendees of the First Global Forum on Food Sovereignty in Nyéléni village, Mali:

“Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.”

(First Global Forum on Food Sovereignty 2007b)

The food sovereignty movement focuses on fostering sustainable small-scale agriculture, particularly in places with food scarcity. Its central tenet is that large-scale industrial agriculture and food production prevents many people from being able to adequately feed themselves. Food sovereignty has six core principles (First Global Forum on Food Sovereignty 2007a):

1. Focuses on Food for People:

• Upholds the right to sufficient, healthy, culturally appropriate food for all, including marginalized and conflict-affected individuals.
• Rejects the notion of food as a mere commodity for international agribusiness.

2. Values Food Providers:

• Respects and supports the contributions and rights of various food providers, such as women, peasants, small-scale farmers, and indigenous communities.
• Opposes policies that undermine their livelihoods and undervalue their importance.

3. Localizes Food Systems:

• Engages food providers and consumers in decision-making processes.
• Protects against negative impacts of food dumping, poor-quality food, and genetically modified organisms.
• Challenges unsustainable international trade practices and the power of unaccountable corporations.

4. Makes Decisions Locally:

• Strives for local control over and access to resources, including land, water, seeds, and livestock, in sustainable and equitable ways.
• Supports the rights of local communities to inhabit and use their territories.
• Opposes privatization of natural resources through commercial contracts and intellectual property rights regimes.

5. Builds Knowledge and Skills:

• Recognizes and builds upon the expertise and local knowledge of food providers and their organizations.
• Promotes research systems supporting localized food production and transmission of wisdom to future generations.
• Rejects technologies that threaten traditional practices, such as genetic engineering.

6. Works with Nature:

• Embraces agro-ecological production methods that align with nature, enhance ecosystem contributions, and foster resilience in the face of climate change.
• Aims to heal the planet and opposes environmentally damaging practices like monocultures and destructive fishing methods.

Self-determination is a principle of freedom and sovereignty that emerged in international law. It has historically favored powerful states, neglecting marginalized nations and indigenous communities. While it has expanded to include smaller groups, it still tends to protect established states. Nonetheless, self-determination can empower marginalized groups. Labor unions invoke it for bargaining power, while Indigenous communities seek sovereignty and decolonization. The food sovereignty movement also aligns with self-determination, advocating for local decision-making and sustainable agriculture.

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Climate Justice Alliance. 2018. “Just Transition Principles.” https://climatejusticealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/CJA_JustTransition_Principles_final_hi-rez.pdf.

Delucia, Christine, Doug Kiel, Katrina Phillips, and Kiara Vigil. 2021. “Histories of Indigenous Sovereignty in Action: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?” The American Historian, March. https://www.oah.org/tah/issues/2021/native-american-history-and-sovereignty/histories-of-indigenous-sovereignty-in-action-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-matter/.

First Global Forum on Food Sovereignty. 2007a. “The 6 Food Sovereignty Principles.” https://grassrootsonline.org/sites/default/files/The-6-Food-Sovereignty-Principles.pdf.

———. 2007b. “Declaration of Nyéléni.”

Fisch, Jörg. 2015. A History of the Self-Determination of Peoples: The Domestication of an Illusion. Cambridge University Press.