Category: Working Papers

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.

Author: Nguyen Van Thong, LL.M.Affiliation: Thong Nguyen Law Abstract This article examines the legal status and conceptual complexity of the right of self-determination in contemporary international law. It argues that self-determination operates simultaneously as a foundational principle and as a concrete legal right, generating both normative guidance and enforceable entitlements. Keywords: self-determination, international law, sovereignty,…