The Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination will sponsor a colloquium, “The Perils and Promises of Self-Determination in the Twenty-First Century” on April 28, 2014 at Princeton University. Twelve leading scholars on self-determination will participate in the discussions. To attend, RSVP to Angella Matheney.

The seminar will address the important transformations of self-determination in the twenty-first century from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The colloquium will revisit historical tensions, including peoplehood, territorial integrity, sectarianism, ethnic conflict, globalization, ICT, cultural-religious dimensions, strategic issues, secessionism and generational dimensions, and how changes since the Fall of the Wall in 1989 have reshaped these developments and engendered new ones. While self-determination spells both perils and promise, colloquium participants will investigate how novel structures, instruments, and actors pull and push one way or the other.

Audio-streaming of the workshop talks and discussions will be available. If you would like to address a question to the participants during the workshop, please tweet questions and comments @PrincetonLISD or send by email to [email protected].

Workshop Agenda

Monday, April 28
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
   Opening
   Wolfgang Danspeckgruber, Founding Director, Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University, Chair

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
   Session I. Self-Determination and the End of History
   Aviel Roshwald, Department of History / Georgetown University
      The Daily Plebiscite as 21st-Century Reality
   Uriel Abulof, LISD / Princeton University & Politics / Tel-Aviv University
      We the Peoples? The Taming of Self-Determination
   Oded Haklai, Political Studies / Queen's University
      Self-Determination in the Post-State Formation Era: New Directions for an International Order Principle in the 21st Century

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
   Session II. The Dangers of Self-Determination
   Amitai Etzioni, International Affairs / George Washington University
      The Evils of Self-Determination
   Mark R. Beissinger, Politics / Princeton University
      Self-Determination as Pretext for Imperialism: The Russian Experience
   Bernard Yack, Politics / Brandeis University
      What's Wrong with National Rights

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
   Session III. Self-Determination and the Politics of Identity
   Mikulas Fabry, International Affairs / Georgia Institute of Technology
      The Right to Self-Determination as a Claim to Independence in International Relations Practice
   Outi Keranen, Political Science / University College London
      Legitimizing Self-Determination in the Case of Sub-State National Groups: An Analysis of Kurdish Groups and Bosnian Serbs
   Elise Giuliano, International Relations and Comparative Politics / Columbia University
      Federalism as a Solution to Ethnic Secession and Ethnic Conflict in Multinational States?
      Ethnic Interests and Ethnic Groups as Political Actors
    IIan Peleg, Government & Law / Lafayette College
      Self-Determination and Majority-Minority Relations in Deeply Divided Societies: A Comparative Analytical Framework

Tuesday, April 29
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
   Session IV. Self-Determining the State
   Benny Miller, Politics, Haifa University
      Stateness, National Self-determination and War and Peace in the 21st Century
   Matt Qvortrup, Management and Security / Cranfield University
      Referendums: Between the Rule of Law and Realpolitik
   Karl Cordell, School of Government / Plymouth University
      Self-Determination in the Twenty-First Century: Some Observations
   Montserrat Guibernau, Politics, Queen Mary University of London
      The Consequences of Democracy: On Catalonia’s Self-Determination

12:00 p.m.
   Session V. The Future of Self-Determination / Lunch Discussion

2:00 p.m.
   Session VI. Self-Determination Crises / Discussion with Visiting UN Delegations

5:00 p.m.
   Concluding Session
   Uriel Abulof and Wolfgang Danspeckgruber