TY - JOUR
T1 - Secession and Political Capacity
AU - Angell, Kim
AU - Huseby, Robert
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - We argue that plebiscitary theories of secession have more permissive implications than has thus far been recognized, by proponents and critics alike. The plebiscitary theory aims to devise a principle for the moral right to secede. This principle implies, we claim, that the view under many circumstances is unable to distinguish between secession of collectives and individuals. Thus, not only large groups like the Catalans and the Scots, but also various much smaller groups, and even individuals, may have a right to secede. The result is an extremely permissive theory. For some, having the plebiscitary theory’s full implications clarified may only strengthen their opposition to it. However, we argue that a significant upside to the plebiscitary theory’s permissive stance on secession is the toleration and respect it implies for an array of small-scale ways of organizing oneself politically.
AB - We argue that plebiscitary theories of secession have more permissive implications than has thus far been recognized, by proponents and critics alike. The plebiscitary theory aims to devise a principle for the moral right to secede. This principle implies, we claim, that the view under many circumstances is unable to distinguish between secession of collectives and individuals. Thus, not only large groups like the Catalans and the Scots, but also various much smaller groups, and even individuals, may have a right to secede. The result is an extremely permissive theory. For some, having the plebiscitary theory’s full implications clarified may only strengthen their opposition to it. However, we argue that a significant upside to the plebiscitary theory’s permissive stance on secession is the toleration and respect it implies for an array of small-scale ways of organizing oneself politically.
KW - Andrew Altman
KW - Christopher Heath Wellman
KW - plebiscitary (primary right) theories
KW - political capacity
KW - secession
U2 - 10.1080/13698230.2020.1851858
DO - 10.1080/13698230.2020.1851858
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1369-8230
VL - 26
SP - 1073
EP - 1093
JO - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy
JF - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy
IS - 7
ER -