Choice Theories of Secession

A choice theory of secession holds that some groups have a right to secede at their own discretion, independently of whether they are now or have ever been victims of injustice. Choice theories are therefore in conflict with remedial-right only theories, which hold that unjust treatment of the seceding group is necessary to justify secession. Choice theories are often distinguished from nationalist theories of secession. Nationalist theories also affirm a primary right to secede, but they claim that this right belongs to only (and for some theorists, all) culturally distinct and territorially localized ʼnations’. Nationalist theories are therefore typically distinguished from choice theories, because choice theories are not necessarily wedded to the claim that seceding groups must share a common culture, language, history and so on.