Right of Nations to Self-Determination

The right of nations to self-determination is a revolutionary principle developed by several socialists until its final formulation and application by Vladimir Lenin and the Soviet Union.

Development of Theory

It was the long-proclaimed Marxist dictum that "No nation can be free if it oppresses other nations " and "A nation that enslaves another forges its own chains."[1]

The Second International continued to raise the colonial question and uphold the right to national self-determination of European nations, it was the

Stalin, who was recognised as having the greatest expertise in he affairs of nationalities , wrote Marxism and the National Question in 1913. The work Lenin went on to tremendously elaborate the Marxist-Leninist position when he wrote the Right of Nations to Self-Determinations in 1915

Bourgeois versions

As better remembered in bourgeois-propagated popular memory, the incumbent President of the United States Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the right of nations to self-determination for the central and eastern territories which had been occupied by regional imperialist powers . However, this was vision was highly limited[2] :

...Mr President, your conception of the League of Nations with which you propose to crown the work of peace. You demand the independence of Poland, Serbia, Belgium, and liberty for the peoples of Austria-Hungary. You probably mean to say that the popular masses everywhere must first take the determination of their fate into their own hands in order afterwards to associate in a free league of nations. But, strangely enough, we have not seen among your demands the liberation of either Ireland, Egypt, India or even the liberation of the Philippines, and we greatly desire that these peoples, through their freely-elected representatives, should have an opportunity, jointly with us, to take part in the organisation of the League of Nations.

— RSFSR FM Georgy Chicherin, Peace proposals to Wilson

Bourgeois nationalism of the post-Versailles states were highly exclusionary in nature, as shown by the oppression of Jews, Belorussians and Ukrainians in interwar Poland.

Theory in Practice

On November 16 1917, Lenin issued the document which went on to be ratified by the Third Congress of Soviets on January 18,1918 and enunciated the following principles:

1. Equality and sovereignty of the peoples of Russia.
2. The Right of the peoples of Russia to self-determination, including the right to secede and form an independent national state.
3. The abolition of all national and religious privileges and restrictions whatsoever
4. Free Development for the national minorities and ethnographical groups inhabiting the territory of Russia.[3]

The Baltic provinces and Finland went on to apply for and obtain secession. This loss was more than compensated by the confidence the proclamation instilled for oppressed nations across the world.