Chapter 8 National Self-Determination Chapter Issue: Should national self-determination be pursued? Related Issue #2: Should nations pursue national interest? Name:
#1 Chapter 8: National Self-Determination Chapter Issue: Should national self-determination be pursued? RELATED ISSUE#2: Should nations pursue national interest? What is National Self-Determination (pages 174-175) When a people pursue national self-determination, they are trying to gain or keep the power to control their own affairs. They want to make their own decisions about what is in their national interest. Read in your textbook on page 174 about the example of Timor-Leste, or also known as East Timor which was a colony of Portugal. Timor-Leste has struggled for independence with Indonesia since 1975. Self-Determination is described in your textbook index as the power to control one s own affairs. National self-determination is the power of people in a country or nation to make their own decisions about what is in their interest. Write out the definition(s) for PLEBISCITE below: (2 marks) American president Woodrow Wilson called for the free self-determination of nations as World War I was ending. However, it became abundantly clear that the Allies idea of selfdetermination applied only to countries of northern Europe. It DID NOT extend to nations, such as those in Yugoslavia that had been part of the Ottoman Empire. And it did not apply to nations, such as Timor-Leste, that were colonies of European empires. Self-Determination and Nation States (page 175) American historian Louis L. Snyder said that a people s desire for self-determination underpins their right to freely choose how they will be governed. But Snyder also noted that the desire for self-determination can bring people together OR drive them apart. For example, the violence in Timor-Leste that followed the plebiscite on independence was caused by conflicting ideas about self-determination. The debate over who has the right to self-determination and what this right means is reflected in the charter of the United Nations. But, there is definitely some controversy concerning the charter. According to the charter, the UN exists to strengthen peace in the world. To keep the peace, the UN develops friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of all peoples. And all countries that belong to the UN have the right to sovereign equality. BUT, the UN does not say what happens when peoples within sovereign nations want self-determination. The International Court of Justice was established in 1945 as part of the UN and this court has ruled that peoples, as well as governments, have the right to self-determination. So the sovereignty of a nation-state can sometimes conflict with a people s right to self-determination.
Kosovo Self-Determination or Sovereignty? Read this section on at the bottom of page 175 to make your own decision. As well, please look at Figure 8-4. What Are Some Effects of Pursuing National Self-Determination? At the end of World War I, American president Woodrow Wilson believed that national selfdetermination would bring peace and security to the world. Who could deny the appeal of a world in which all peoples could control their own lives and pursue their national interests? But pursuing national self-determination can have both positive and negative effects. An action that is in one people s national interest may not be in another people s interest. Even defining a people has proven difficult. Javier Leon Diaz, an international human rights lawyer, says that no precise legal definition of the term people exists. But Leon Diaz also says that the term is often used to describe groups who: share a common historical tradition, language and religion identify themselves as a distinct cultural group have a traditional connection to a particular territory But understanding the term people is only the first step toward resolving various peoples struggle for the right to self-determination. Continuity and Change (page 177) Sometimes a people s struggle for self-determination has a long and tangled history. Many struggles for self-determination are the result of events that caused a people to lose control over their government, their economy, their society, or their culture. Past civic and ethnic claims and conflicts can affect what a people are able to achieve. Read the example of Kosovo on page 177. The struggle between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs has gone on for generations. NEXT, examine the pictures in the photo essay on pages 176 and 177. In each case, identify some of the conflicting interests involved in the pursuit of national self-determination.
What Are The Effects of Pursuing National Self-Determination (pages 178-184) Pursuing National Self-Determination in Indochina (page 178-179) Questions: 1. Which European countries ruled much of Southeast Asia in the early 1900s? (1 mark) 2. Which parts did France control and what was the region renamed? (2 marks) 3. When did Japan invade Indochina? (1 mark) 4. What did some peoples in the area become committed to doing? (1 mark) 5. What happened specifically in Vietnam as result of the Japanese invasion? (1 mark) 6. When World War II ended, which country took back control of Vietnam? (1 mark) 7. What was the Viet Minh s response? (1 mark) 8. When did the war between France and the Vietnamese end? (1 mark) 9. How was Vietnam divided? (1 mark) 10. What was the result of this division? (1 mark) 11. What had the people of South Vietnam been promised? (1 mark) 12. What was the fear of the Americans if an election did take place? (1 mark)
13. How was South Vietnam ruled instead? (1 mark) In Vietnam 14. How many U.S. troops were fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia by 1969? (1 mark) 15. How did war supporters argue the need for the Americans to fight this war? (2 marks) 16. Who was President of the United States in 1954? (1 mark) 17. What is the domino theory? (2 marks) 18. What did other war supporters say why the Americans were fighting in Vietnam? (2 marks) 19. Name two reasons why Americans began to oppose the Vietnam war in the 1960 s? (2 marks) More to the Story The United States never formally declared war on Vietnam despite more than 10 years of active combat and the death of more than 58,000 American soldiers. In the early 20 th century, and idealistic young man later known as Ho Chi Minh sailed from Vietnam to France. He was inspired by the French values of liberty, equality, and brotherhood and he hoped to bring these values back to his country. When Ho learned that U.S. president Woodrow Wilson was saying all nations should have self-determination, he tried to present Wilson with a list of French abuses in Vietnam. But Wilson would not talk to him. Disappointed, Ho joined the Communist Party, but he always said, It was patriotism, not communism, that inspired me.
In Cambodia 1. What do people seeking self-determination want? (1 mark) 2. What helps people bring justice to those who have committed crimes against them? (1 mark) 3. What was Cambodia once a part of? (1 mark) 4. What happened in Cambodia in 1976? (1 mark) 5. What were the people of Cambodia forced to do? (1 mark) 6. What were the people of Cambodia forced to give up? (1 mark) 7. How many people died and what caused their deaths? (1 mark) 8. Who overthrew Pol Pot s government in 1979? (1 mark) 9. Why did Cambodia remain unstable after this event in 1979? (1 mark) 10. What happened for the people of Cambodia in 1993? (1 mark) 11. When was peace finally achieved in Cambodia? (1 mark)
12. What did the UN set up in Cambodia in 2003? (1 mark) 13. What does the tribunal include? (1 mark) 14. What was the disagreement? (1 mark) 15. What has now complicated the legal process? (1 mark) 16. Why do these trials serve little purpose for the people of Cambodia today? (1 mark) Pursuing National Self-Determination in India (page 180-179) 1. Which present day countries did Britain rule at the beginning of the 20 th century? (2 marks) 2. How did Britain s takeover of the region begin in the 1600? (1 mark) 3. What is the East India Company s similarity to the Hudson s Bay Company? (1 mark) 4. When the East India Company s rule over India began to slip, how did the British government keep control of India? Was this fair to the people of India? Why or why not? (4 marks) 5. How did Indian nationalism begin to rise? What is the irony of what the British were doing to the people of India? (2 marks)
6. Who emerged as the leader of the self-determination movement in India in the 1920 s? (1 mark) 7. Where had Gandhi lived for 20 years? (1 mark) 8. What did he do there? (1 mark) 9. What did he do in 1914 and what group did he join? (2 marks) 10. What did Gandhi do over the next decades in India? (1 mark) 11. What did Gandhi believe were the keys to achieving Indians goals? (2 marks) 12. What did the British use money from salt taxes for? (1 mark) 13. What happened on March 12, 1930? (1 mark) 14. What was the result of this march for Gandhi? (1 mark)
The Creation of Pakistan 1. Which two religious groups were working for Indian independence in the late 1800s? (2 marks) 2. What problem resulted in 1906? (1 mark) 3. What did the Muslims do? What did they call for? (2 marks) 4. Who was the leader of the Muslim League in 1940? (1 mark) 5. What did he insist upon? (1 mark) 6. What did Gandhi want? (1 mark) 7. What did he tell Jinnah? (1 mark) 8. Who s view prevailed? (1 mark) 9. What two nations were formed in 1947? (1 mark) 10. What is the most prevalent religious group in India? (1 mark) 11. What is the most prevalent religious group in Pakistan? (1 mark) 12. What happened in both countries where ONCE, Hindus and Muslims had lived together peacefully? (2 marks)
13. What was the result of the violence for Muslims living in India and Hindus living in Pakistan? (2 marks) 14. Do you believe, according to the map in Figure 8-13 that the division of India into India and Pakistan to be logical? Explain! (3 marks) Pursuing National Self-Determination in Kashmir (page 182) We will read about the peoples living in Kashmir and their struggle for self-determination together as a class. Pursuing National Self-Determination in Tibet (page 183-184) We will read about the peoples living in Tibet and their struggle for self-determination together as a class. Once you have completed the questions and the reading, please complete Reproducible 2.8.3 on the following page Some Effects of Pursuing Self-Determination. Next, we will work on together Reproducible 2.8.4 Positive and Negative Consequences of the Pursuit of Self-Determination.
Some Effects of Pursuing Self-Determination Example In Vietnam (p. 178, Understanding Nationalism) In Cambodia (p. 179) Conflicting Ideas of National Interest Japan invaded Indochina during WWII France wanted to keep Vietnam under its control The Viet Minh wanted independence The USA wanted to contain communism Khmer Rouge & Pol Pot controlled Cambodia and ruled with terror in 1976-79 Khmer Rouge forced people to give up their religion, property, money To get justice against the Khmer Rouge, UN appointed judges to work with judges in Cambodia Cambodians want justice under Cambodian law Effects * Vietnam was divided into two parts *War raged between North Vietnam,supp. By China and USSR and South Vietnam is supported by USA * war raged on in Vietnam during the 1950 s, 60 s and 70 s *Justice has been delayed * most people of Cambodia don t want to care anymore, most of those who were responsible are dead, and most witnesses are now dead *Cambodia has been much more peaceful since 1998 * Khmer Rouge members are apart of the Cambodian government In India (p. 180) British wanted to keep India as a colony India wanted independence * Mohandas Gandhi s campaign of nonviolence and noncompliance to end British rule * Indian independence achieved in 1947
In Pakistan (p. 181) Gandhi wants to keep Muslims and Hindus together in one country (India) Ali Jinnah wanted Muslims to have their own country * India was divided into India and Pakistan when India achieved independence * Partition led to widespread ethnic violence In Kashmir (p. 182) In Tibet (pp. 183 184) India wants the region Pakistan wants the region Tibet wanted to stay independent from China China wants Tibet to be a part of China * decades of violence * many people (Kashmirs) want their own independence from India and Pakistan * China encouraged Chinese immigration to Tibet * Tibetans now may become a minority in their own region due to so many Chinese moving into Tibet
Positive and Negative Consequences of the Pursuit of Self-Determination People South Asians of India and Pakistan Positive Outcomes * non-violent independence movement led by Gandhi in India * success in achieving independence from Britain for India * establishment of independent states in the region Example or Proof * Gandhi s campaigns of non-violence and civil disobedience in the 1930 s * independence achieved in 1947 for India * India and West Pakistan Negative Outcomes * Division of India into two separate states (India and Pakistan) * violence between Muslims and Hindus * Kashmir s right to selfdetermination still in dispute Example or Proof *Partition into India and East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and West Pakistan * the conflict has led to MANY deaths in the region *plebiscite has still NOT been held, and the violence continues in Kashmir
People or Place First Nations Pursuit of National Self-Determination History in Canada -long before Europeans came to settle in Canada Aboriginals were independent -by 1800 s, First Nations were a minority in Canada in Canada Goals -do not want to achieve independence from Canada but they do desire self-government -desire to settle land claims and regain control of their economic development -many believe passing on their culture and values to their children is important Achievements to Date -Royal Commission concluded that they should have the right to govern themselves - 724 hectares of farmland and $13.9 million transferred to Tsawwassen people from BC government -Amiskwaciy Academy combines Aboriginal teaching with core Alberta curriculum Inuit Métis Québéc -long before Europeans came to settle in Canada Inuit were independent -Metis could hunt in their traditional lands regardless of which province they live in -Metis were included as Aboriginal people -Quebecois identify themselves as a distinct cultural group with their own language and traditions -so do the Aboriginals of Quebec -Nunavut Land Claims Agreement 20% of Canada s land mass -Government of Nunavut does not have political parties decisions are made by consensus -Education in Nunavut promotes Inuit culture, traditions, and languages - hunt on their traditional land regardless which province they were in -Metis pressed hard to own their own land in Alberta, be distinctive from First Nations -forgotten in Quebec are the Aboriginal groups fighting for self-determination along with the Francophones in the province -creation of Nunavut in 1999 -Arctic College has 3 campuses and 24 dispersed community centers -students now prepare for their role in contemporary Inuit society - Alfred Janvier s charge of hunting a moose out of season was dropped - 1990, Alberta gov t granted Metis ownership of 500,000 hectares of land -interests of the Aboriginals of Quebec clash with those of the Francophones of Quebec -many Aboriginals say that if Quebec was to separate, many would leave Quebec and stay with Canada but fight for their land rights in Canada
What Are Some Unintended Results of Pursuing National Self-Determination (pages 191-193) One people s pursuit of national self-determination sometimes leads to unintended results for other people. The division of India, for example, was an outcome Mohandas Gandhi did not foresee when he started his campaign for Indian selfdetermination. Nor did he foresee the terrible conflicts that would follow this division. As people struggle for self-determination, they sometimes lose their homes, personal security, economic prosperity, the necessities of life, and even life itself. Those who are forced to leave their homeland may also lose their cultural heritage. When people are trying to achieve or mantain national self-determination, safeguarding their cultural heritage is often linked to safeguarding the territory that is tied to their identity. Look in your textbook on page 191 to see the example of how the International Crisis Group tried to deal with the issue of Kosovo fighting for self-determination and how the loss of Kosovo affected Kosovor Serbs and Serbia itself. Write out the 4 definitions for Refugees below:
Unintended Consequences of the Pursuit of Self-Determination Unintended Consequence Refugees Details of this Consequence Host Countries Afghan Refugees Difficult Choices