In this Commentary LISD Director Wolfgang Danspeckgruber contextualizes today's self-determination crises and offers key points for how to effectively deal with a self-determination crisis. Danspeckgruber notes, "Determining one’s own destiny, also known as 'self-determination,' has been one of the most complex, intricate, emotion-mobilizing, aspiration-creating concept in our world," but cautions that, "[s]elf-determination, the intent for greater autonomy or independence by a certain community can however also be instrumentalized for outside interests and strategies. ... Much of the outcome depends on the leadership in the community, the state, and the role of information and media." Still, Danspeckgruber argues, self-determination claims should not be ignored and channels of communication must remain open. "In case these expectations and aspirations do remain unfulfilled," he asserts, "there is a danger of increasing tensions between that community and the state power center, but also between that community and other equal communities in the same state."