The concept of self-determination has played a very important role in the shaping of the international community in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is closely linked in a number of different ways to the status of minorities and minorities frequently make claims to self-determination as a right for themselves. This meticulously researched book explores the relationship between self-determination and minority rights in international law. It is highly detailed in its treatment of the subject, discussing very recent events, such as the atrocities in the former Yugoslavia, in a valuable historical context. His analysis of the issues provide the reader with a significant clarification of the legal issues involved, especially since the establishment of the UN and the development of international norms of human rights. As such, the book will hold particular appeal for all those who are interested in international law and politics, as well as students of modern history wishing to be informed on this hotly debated issue.
