<P> Vita Gudeleviciute holds that in cases of non-self - governing peoples and foreign military occupation the principle of self - determination trumps that of territorial integrity . In cases where people lack representation by a state's government, they also may be considered a separate people, but under current law cannot claim the right to self - determination . On the other hand, she finds that secession within a single state is a domestic matter not covered by international law . Thus there are no on what groups may constitute a seceding people . </P> <P> A number of states have laid claim to territories, which they allege were removed from them as a result of colonialism . This is justified by reference to Paragraph 6 of UN Resolution 1514 (XV), which states that any attempt "aimed at partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter". This, it is claimed, applies to situations where the territorial integrity of a state had been disrupted by colonisation, so that the people of a territory subject to a historic territorial claim are prevented from exercising a right to self - determination . This interpretation is rejected by many states, who argue that Paragraph 2 of UN Resolution 1514 (XV) states that "all peoples have the right to self - determination" and Paragraph 6 cannot be used to justify territorial claims . The original purpose of Paragraph 6 was "to ensure that acts of self - determination occur within the established boundaries of colonies, rather than within sub-regions". Further, the use of the word attempt in Paragraph 6 denotes future action and cannot be construed to justify territorial redress for past action . An attempt sponsored by Spain and Argentina to qualify the right to self - determination in cases where there was a territorial dispute was rejected by the UN General Assembly, which re-iterated the right to self - determination was a universal right . </P> <P> In order to accommodate demands for minority rights and avoid secession and the creation of a separate new state, many states decentralize or devolve greater decision - making power to new or existing subunits or autonomous areas . More limited measures might include restricting demands to the maintenance of national cultures or granting non-territorial autonomy in the form of national associations which would assume control over cultural matters . This would be available only to groups that abandoned secessionist demands and the territorial state would retain political and judicial control, but only if would remain with the territorially organized state . </P> <P> Pavković explores how national self - determination, in the form of creation of a new state through secession, could override the principles of majority rule and of equal rights, which are primary liberal principles . This includes the question of how an unwanted state can be imposed upon a minority . He explores five contemporary theories of secession . In "anarcho - capitalist" theory only landowners have the right to secede . In communitarian theory, only those groups that desire direct or greater political participation have the right, including groups deprived of rights, per Allen Buchanan . In two nationalist theories, only national cultural groups have a right to secede . Australian professor Harry Beran's democratic theory endorses the equality of the right of secession to all types of groups . Unilateral secession against majority rule is justified if the group allows secession of any other group within its territory . </P>

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