HISTORICAL RETROSPECTIVE OF THE FORMATION OF THE INSTITUTION OF AUTONOMY AND SELF-DETERMINATION OF PEOPLES
Анатолий КОСТРОМИЦКИЙ, Молдавский государственный университет
Rezumat
This article examines the evolution of the concept of the right of nations to self-determination from the ideas
of the Enlightenment to the modern enshrinement in international law. It traces the genesis of the ideas of popular
sovereignty and natural human rights in such thinkers as Locke, Grotius, Vattel and Rousseau. The key stages of
formation of the institution of national autonomy are analyzed: national liberation movements of the XVIII-XIX
centuries, the activities of the League of Nations, the formation of the system of minority protection within the
UN. Particular attention is paid to international documents that enshrined the right to self-determination - the
UN Charter, Declarations, Covenants on Human Rights. Controversial issues of correlation of this principle with
the territorial integrity of states are considered. It substantiates the relevance of finding compromise solutions to
ensure stability in the realization of the right to self-determination through various forms of autonomy and the
formation of new states.
Keywords: autonomy, sovereignty, self-determination of peoples, rights of national minorities.
