Academic Paper from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Public International Law and Human Rights, grade: 6.2, language: English, abstract: This essay endeavors to study the growth of self-determination through the course of its genesis in ancient political thought to its evolution as a human right in modern times. The topic encompasses the various aspects of state sovereignty versus territorial integrity, the people who are entitled to this privilege & how self-determinism survived the anarchic cold war epoch & the onset of globalization to transform itself as a tool to achieving the truest form of democracy & giving the indigenous, minority peoples their identity. It seeks to characterize the concept of self-determinism in the context of it being a peremptory norm of International law, & a human right that is universal in nature. While the topic focuses on the socio-political aspect of the concept, it has also sought to investigate the psychological motivation of the people who claim their right to self-determination, in order to construct an unbiased, wholesome view of a concept that is mired in conflict between national self-determination & territorial integrity. The essay adopts a fresh, approach by reviewing the provisions of various charters & international instruments, as well as exemplifying the right to self-determination with reference to relevant case studies & treaties in the post colonial era; with due emphasis laid on its evolving nature in the context of globalization in modern times. Keywords: Self-determinism. Art.1 of the United Nations charter. Peremptory norm. Jus cogens. Erga omnes. Territorial integrity. West-Saharan case. Vox populi. Effects of globalization on self-determinism. Right to secession. Kirby definition. Psychological aspects of self-determinism. Palestine's right to self-determinism. Oslo accords. Baguio declaration.