Timeline of Self-Determination (SD)
18th-19th Century: Early Development of the Principle of Nationalities
● 1789: French Revolution emphasizes the idea that a nation should be the basis for
forming a state. The Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen states: “The
principle of any sovereignty lies primarily in the Nation.”
● 1814-1815: Congress of Vienna restores pre-Napoleonic borders, but nationalism
spreads as many populations seek statehood based on shared identity.
● Late 19th Century: Unification of Germany (1871) and Italy (1861) driven by
strong national movements inspired by the principle of nationalities.
Early 20th Century: From Nationalities to Self-Determination
● 1914-1918: World War I highlights nationalism as a major factor in international
conflict.
● 1917: Bolshevik Revolution in Russia introduces a version of self-determination
tied to class struggle.
● 1918: Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points (January 8) lay the groundwork for
modern self-determination, emphasizing the right of peoples to decide their
sovereignty.
● 1919: Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles redraw borders based
on the principle of nationalities, but SD is not universally applied.
1920s: Early International Cases of Self-Determination
● 1920: Åland Islands Case – The League of Nations denies the islands’ request to
secede from Finland but introduces the idea of remedial self-determination as a
last resort in cases of oppression.
● 1924: Soviet Constitution allows secession for republics but remains more
theoretical than practical.
1930s-1940s: Self-Determination and the Rise of the United Nations
● 1933: Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States sets the criteria
for statehood (population, defined territory, government, and capacity to enter
relations with other states).
● 1945: United Nations (UN) Founded – The UN Charter (Articles 1(2), 2(1), and
2(4)) recognizes the external dimension of polity-based self-determination as a
guiding principle for maintaining peace.
1948-1966: Expansion of Human Rights and Self-Determination
● 1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – Establishes broad human
rights but does not explicitly mention SD.
18th-19th Century: Early Development of the Principle of Nationalities
● 1789: French Revolution emphasizes the idea that a nation should be the basis for
forming a state. The Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen states: “The
principle of any sovereignty lies primarily in the Nation.”
● 1814-1815: Congress of Vienna restores pre-Napoleonic borders, but nationalism
spreads as many populations seek statehood based on shared identity.
● Late 19th Century: Unification of Germany (1871) and Italy (1861) driven by
strong national movements inspired by the principle of nationalities.
Early 20th Century: From Nationalities to Self-Determination
● 1914-1918: World War I highlights nationalism as a major factor in international
conflict.
● 1917: Bolshevik Revolution in Russia introduces a version of self-determination
tied to class struggle.
● 1918: Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points (January 8) lay the groundwork for
modern self-determination, emphasizing the right of peoples to decide their
sovereignty.
● 1919: Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles redraw borders based
on the principle of nationalities, but SD is not universally applied.
1920s: Early International Cases of Self-Determination
● 1920: Åland Islands Case – The League of Nations denies the islands’ request to
secede from Finland but introduces the idea of remedial self-determination as a
last resort in cases of oppression.
● 1924: Soviet Constitution allows secession for republics but remains more
theoretical than practical.
1930s-1940s: Self-Determination and the Rise of the United Nations
● 1933: Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States sets the criteria
for statehood (population, defined territory, government, and capacity to enter
relations with other states).
● 1945: United Nations (UN) Founded – The UN Charter (Articles 1(2), 2(1), and
2(4)) recognizes the external dimension of polity-based self-determination as a
guiding principle for maintaining peace.
1948-1966: Expansion of Human Rights and Self-Determination
● 1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – Establishes broad human
rights but does not explicitly mention SD.
