Philosophy 2810F/G Chapter Notes -Special Rights, Institutional Theory, The Incentive
18 Sep 2012
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There has been no systematic account of the types of normative theories of secession. Depend upon whether the attractive features of non-institutional theories remain attractive when attempts are made to institutionalize them. I shall argue that they do not: otherwise appealing accounts of the right to secede are seen to be poor guides to institutional reform. It is appreciated that attempts to incorporate them into international institutions would create perverse incentives. Unless institutional considerations are taken into account from the beginning in developing a normative theory of secession, the result is unlikely to be of much value for the task of providing moral guidance for institutional reform. Because secessionist attempts are usually resisted with deadly force by the state, human rights violations are common in secession. Their theories are only intended to provide general guidance but provide no clues as to how the gap might be bridged.
