Tokelau is a remote southern Pacific Ocean Island currently owned by New Zealand with a population of ~1500 and currently on the UN list of non-self-governing territories. The UN has pushed for referendums towards statehood, two of which have failed. In this case, it seems that by virtue of being an Island rather than just a small town off the interstate, Tokelau may deserve self determination. It's not clear what a 1500-member nation would look like.
Tokelau is a couple of thousand miles north of New Zealand, so the idea of self-rule for Tokelau is not absurd. On the other hand, its population is only 1500 and New Zealand is a pretty nice colonial master.
The lesson is that the modern world, with its 200 countries participating in the Olympics, tends toward a bias for self rule. Thus the idea that giant Russia should reabsorb large Ukraine is very much against the spirit of the age.
Yeah, I mean, if Ukraine doesn't have a right to exist, what about, say, Canada or Australia or New Zealand? Why exactly shouldn't the US conquer those territories? For that matter, why exactly shouldn't Germany conquer Austria or even the Netherlands? Or Kazakhstan conquer Kyrgyzstan? Or Thailand conquer Laos? Or Indonesia conquer Malaysia? Or Jordan conquer Syria?
Tokelau is a remote southern Pacific Ocean Island currently owned by New Zealand with a population of ~1500 and currently on the UN list of non-self-governing territories. The UN has pushed for referendums towards statehood, two of which have failed. In this case, it seems that by virtue of being an Island rather than just a small town off the interstate, Tokelau may deserve self determination. It's not clear what a 1500-member nation would look like.
It wouldn't be a nation. It'd be a City State. In fact, it'd be about 3x the size of the Vatican City State by population.
Tokelau is a couple of thousand miles north of New Zealand, so the idea of self-rule for Tokelau is not absurd. On the other hand, its population is only 1500 and New Zealand is a pretty nice colonial master.
The lesson is that the modern world, with its 200 countries participating in the Olympics, tends toward a bias for self rule. Thus the idea that giant Russia should reabsorb large Ukraine is very much against the spirit of the age.
Yeah, I mean, if Ukraine doesn't have a right to exist, what about, say, Canada or Australia or New Zealand? Why exactly shouldn't the US conquer those territories? For that matter, why exactly shouldn't Germany conquer Austria or even the Netherlands? Or Kazakhstan conquer Kyrgyzstan? Or Thailand conquer Laos? Or Indonesia conquer Malaysia? Or Jordan conquer Syria?