"national Self-determination Principle To Resolve The Plight Of The Chechen Problem In Russia's Politics

As one of the basic rules of the international law, the rule of "national self-determination" has played a significant role in the process of bourgeoisie fighting against feudal dictatorship and striving for the founding of nation-state from seventeenth to nineteenth century, as well as in the process of world-wide anti-colonization movement in the twentieth century. However, with the up-surging of a new round of movements against national oppression and for independence and equality among nations from late 1980s to early 1990s, this rule was exploited by national separatists as their guiding theory, which brought this theory into a dilemma. This kind of phenomenon is also very obvious in the Chechen problem of the Russian Federation.This phenomenon impels people to reevaluate the utilization of the rule of "national self-determination" in the post-cold war period. On the basis of analyzing and studying on its historical development, the current author holds that the right to "national self-determination" can be applied by both people from colonized countries, which haven't obtained the political independence, and ethnic groups or ethnic minorities in sovereign countries. However, because of their difference, the rule of "self-determination" should be applied accordingly within certain limitation. The right to national self-determination of ethnic groups or ethnic minorities in sovereign countries should not include the separation right, viz. the right to separating the ethnic group from a sovereign country to establish an independent country. Utilization of the rule of "national self-determination" by ethnic groups in a sovereign country should focus on realizing their right to economic, social and cultural development.Since late 1980s and early 1990s, separatists in Chechen attempted to seek for independence under the pretext of "national self-determination", which distorted the rule. Neither Lenin's elaboration on the right to national self-determination or the relevant stipulations in the international law has provided theoretical basis for Chechen separatists' "independence movement". The pretext of "national self-determination" is a trick played by Chechen separatists. In fact, the national movement happened in Chechen cannot represent the political choice of the Chechen people.At the same time, we should notice that the Chechen Republic of Russian Federation enjoys a unique geographical position, special natural condition, historical background as well as religious background. If the Chechen Republic obtains independence, it will bring great losses to the national interest of Russia and undermines the stability of this region and the whole world as well. Therefore, in solving the Chechen problem, the Russian Federation should define the political connotations of "national self-determination" in the new period of time, clearly deny "free separation right", stress on the right of each ethnic group to seek for economic, social and cultural development, stress on the equal right of its citizen, with no consideration of their ethnic group or religious belief so as to guard against evil attempts of some western countries under the pretext of "national self-determination".From the perspective of reasonably dealing with the rule of "national self-determination", the Russian government manifested both its strong points and its inefficiency in their efforts solving the Chechen problem. However, generally speaking, after dozens of years' thinking and imploration after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, the Russian government's ethnic policies are developing more rationally and practically. And the Russian government has taken certain measures to fight against the separatists' attempt to distort the rule of "national self-determination" into a rule favoring separation. At the same time, with the ending of taking military actions to solve the Chechen problem, the Russian government is gradually placing its focus on speeding up the legal and economic construction of Chechen and restoring its social stability. Th...