Zuleykha
Let me start with a basic question,
Breaking of a nation to form another nation is very possible and it is ultimately guided by the customary Principle of Self Determination.
Since time immemorial people have always wished to have a control over their lives, states ,politics and resources. It is an inherent human trait to desire more freedom.
Under Public international law the principle of self determination is a binding norm and recently it has acquired customary legal status; henceforth it binds upon all states.
Tracing the origin of this principle in the contemporary age, it would be better if we probe a bit of the European history especially during the time of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Holy Roman Empire founded on February 2, 962 A.D was a non-secular state under the patronage of the Pontiff and the Catholic Church. The empire ruled a vast portion of Europe but as the time went on it was to be cascaded by a wave of protestant reformation. Many people and rulers tried to go out of the periphery of the Catholic Church but they were either imprisoned or killed: Since the ideas of Europe were built on religion, thus no body could go against the wishes of the Pope who was deemed to be the divine ruler of Europe.
The war broke out in Europe between the protestant controlled territories and Catholic controlled territories of Europe. It was devastating since it lasted for thirty years and it took a toll for both sides of the war. Having discovered the impending danger ahead the rulers of the belligerent nations chose a peace passage: This was no other than a famous Peace of Westphalia of 1648. It was called a peace treaty but in reality it just stopped war and the Roman Empire Chose to allow the nations to choose their own path.
This act laid a foundation for the principle of self determination which later on became prevalent through out Europe.
Under public international law the principle of self determination is Janus-Faced (Two sided) since;
- Claims involving a formation of a new state.
- Claims not-involving a formation of a new state.
On the first is what was seen during the post world war two period. Whereby colonies of Africa, Asia and Latin America started to demand freedom against foreign domination. Some used armed struggle while some used peace.
Tanganyika our is a good example, TANU solely invoked the principle of self determination during the crusade for independence. Furthermore some members of the state may choose to separate themselves from the pre-existing state and form a new state. A good example can be seen from a secession of Biafra from Nigeria 1967, Secession of Bangladesh from Pakistan 1971 and Cession of the Crimea into the Russian Federation in 2014.