Topic: Determining the Legitimacy of Secession Movements and Obligations of Parent States
Country: Norway
Delegate Name: Brendan Wendlandt
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Norway position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Nationality is a controversial and legitimate topic of public interest for many states looking to a self-determination movement. Norway’s stance upon recognizing aspiring separatist groups and nations is, for the most part, is fairly supportive. Norwegian delegation believes that all states have a right to self-determination. Historically, although secession isn’t always the most viable option for a nation, it has had many instances in which states that perhaps do not receive international recognition display greater control and governmental security than some of their recognized peers. While there are many significant justifications as to why a nation may or may not want to start a secession movement, Norway strongly believes that each and every nation should have the liberty to chose for themselves if they want to do so, and be internationally recognized as such.
While the Norwegian delegates are ordinarily in favor of the right to secede, they do acknowledge the fact that the justifications to do so must be legitimate, plausible, and the general majority of the public must be in complete support of said movement. Particular justifications could possibly be preserving culture, language, etc. from assimilation or elimination by a greater or more powerful group, escaping “discriminatory redistribution” (tax schemes, regulatory policies, economic programs, etc., that distribute resources away to another area, especially in an undemocratic fashion), making it easier for states to join with others in an experimental union, rectification of past injustices (especially past conquest by a larger power), etc. Also, the consent and willingness of the people to secede should be defined and recognized.
In summary, self-determination is an extremely complex and controversial notion. Norway fully recognizes the importance of the right to secede and also the legitimacy of said secession. Norwegian delegates are in full support of an emerging self-determining state so long as it can provide equitable and plausible justifications along with the consent of the majority of the population strongly in favor of said secession movement. Many states that have seceded should have the right to be internationally recognized as well. Norway looks forward to a future in which a nation has the freedom to withdraw itself from an affiliation and be recognized as such.
