Self-determination is defined to be the process by which a group of people "form their own state and choose their own government" (Britannica). It came about as a result of the doctrine of nationalism, as seen in the American Revolution and the subsequent French Revolution. However, this right to national independence was not yet known as the principle of self-determination. The growth of this principle was fueled largely by the formation of modern European states and the increase in nationally unified thought.
At the core of Wilson's belief, self-determination was required in order for government to be truly democratic. After all, his main belief was in making America "safe for democracy," meaning that he wanted to liberate the people from oppressive regimes. He was firmly convinced in the inherent goodness of humans, and he wished to embody these democratic ideals on a worldwide scale. Simply put, he believed that the general will of the people is perhaps the only source of world peace. In his Fourteen Points, he listed self-determination as an important objective to be achieved after the war, and it was the part of his policy that he most passionately advocated and called for at the Paris Peace Conference.
In the current day, the legacy of Wilson's policy of and support for self-determination still exists and has a positive impact on international relation. The UN Charter, ratified after World War II in 1945, clarifies a couple of things about self-determination. Its purpose is to "develop friendly relations among nations" and "take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace." (UN Charter) His vision of a world made "safe for democracy" by the collective actions of multiple nations was the was what former secretary of defense and head of the World Bank Robert McNamara called "Wilson's ghost." (millercenter.org) The spread of democracy headed by Wilson benefited everyone in that a free, democratic world is one in which the welcoming attitude towards American products makes the nation stronger. The question we face today is whether collective, unified international action, such as Wilson supported, or single-minded American policy in the interest of the nation alone will best fit
the needs of the people.
Sources:
http://millercenter.org/president/biography/wilson-impact-and-legacy
It is interesting how despite the grand goals of these organizations, the democratic world, being democratic, can never fully support these goals. Many will talk about it, but do not agree with a world safe for democracy. It has become apparent in this modern world that a war to liberate the people is no longer a feasible option.
ReplyDeleteWhile the time has passed to liberate the people, I wonder if the self-determination of Wilson, if carried out properly, would have created an ideal world. With so many self determined states, what would prevent racial and religious minorities from repressing their people? It is interesting to imagine the world of Wilson with modern day implications.
After analyzing the Fourteen Points of Woodrow Wilson I think that one of the biggest problems with self-determination in the modern era is that it is extremely hard nowadays to figure which nation is sovereign and which one is not. For example, one of the biggest problems after the Great War was seen with Austria-Hungary. Before the war started Austria-Hungary controlled many other nations. After the war the nations that were being controlled by Austria-Hungary were screaming for independence. Nevertheless, Wilson surprised and confused many by favoring the preservation of the Austro-Hungarian empire over the independence of the people it controlled. Wilson was in a difficult situation simply because he had to choose between the right for self-determination of Austria-Hungary and the right for self-determination of countries such as Serbia.
ReplyDeleteLink: http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/throntveit/files/fable_of_the_fourteen_points_dh_35.3_june_2011.pdf?m=1360040685