Author: Nguyen Van Thong, LL.M.
Affiliation: Thong Nguyen Law
Abstract
This paper examines the distinction between internal and external self-determination in contemporary international law. While internal self-determination is widely accepted as a legal entitlement, external self-determination remains highly contested. Through doctrinal analysis and jurisprudential references, the paper clarifies the legal status, scope, and limits of both concepts.
Keywords: self-determination, international law, sovereignty, peoples, legal status
I. Introduction
Self-determination remains one of the most contested concepts in contemporary international law. While it has been firmly established as a legal principle and, to a certain extent, as a right, its precise scope and application continue to generate significant doctrinal and political debate. This paper examines the distinction between internal and external self-determination, with particular attention to their legal status, normative foundations, and practical implications.