The self-determination of people and international law

Abstract

demands for greater autonomy or self-government led to demands for full independence. With the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires during World War I, the territory of the old empires demanded new sovereigns (EMERSON, 1971). In this context, the principle of self-determination became the foundation of the new division of Europe by the victorious powers. Until then, self-determination was an element raised only by the nations that were within the territories of the defeated empires. Therefore, it was not thought to apply to overseas colonies (BLAY, 1986).