Stateless nation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A stateless nation is a political term used to imply that a group, usually a minority ethnic group is a nation, and is entitled to its own state, specifically a nation-state for that nation. Since there are no objective criteria for whether a particular group is a nation, usage of the term is political and controversial. Usually, it is used by a movement seeking secession from a larger state, which may also be a nation-state. Often, the advocates of secession see the larger state as a form of Empire and its rule as Imperialism. They usually reject the principle of a multi-ethnic state, certainly in cases where one of its ethnic groups seeks sovereignty.
Not all minorities claim to be 'stateless', even if they assert a separate nationality. States recognise minority ethnic groups and nationalities to different degrees: recognising specific cultural and linguistic rights, and allowing certain political autonomy. For instance, the Council of Europe has established since 1992 the "European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages" to protect some specific cultural and linguistic rights.
[edit] Examples
Claimed stateless nations include Kurdistan, Catalan Countries, Basque Country, Galicia, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Quebec, and many others.
[edit] See also
- Sovereignty
- Self-determination
- List of active autonomist and secessionist movements
- Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
- European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
- Celtic nations
[edit] External links and references
- European Council
- Michael Keating. Nations Against the State: The New Politics of Nationalism in Quebec, Catalonia and Scotland.Palgrave.
- Map of European Stateless Nations
- European Minorities
- Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities
