THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION

BURSAĆ Slobodanka (Slobodanka Bursać, saradnik u nastavi, Megatrend univerzitet), boba983@yahoo.com

Applying as a criterion the area of achievement the author divides the right of peoples to self-determination to external and internal, while it is divided to political, economic and cultural when applying the sphere of social life as a criterion. While the right to self-determination undoubtedly belongs to peoples the recognition of this right to other groups, such as indigenous peoples and minorities requires a deeper analysis. The author defines the concept of holders of the right to self-determination that necessarily includes a territorial element. By all this, she analyses two concepts that are related to this right – uti possidetis principle and safeguard clause.

Keywords: Right to self-determination, people, uti possidetis principle, safeguard clause principle, minorities, indigenous peoples