Conclusion
By showing the complex situation in post-Soviet countries, I tried to question the meaning of
self-determination and take a critical approach to the tendency of diminishing the meaning of the
right to self-determination to only self-formation. As it can be seen from the examples mentioned
above, new state formation or succession do not always end up with the form of government
28
Slobodchikoff, M. O. (2014)., 32.
29
Ibid,.
30
For detailed research about this topic see Christiano, T. (2015). Self-determination and the human right
to democracy. Rowan Cruft/Matthew S. Liao/Massimo Renzo (Hg.), Philosophical Foundations of Human
Rights, Oxford: Oxford University Press, S, 459-480.
which people of those countries claim. One of the factors (and maybe the most important) which
slows down the process to achieve full independence and self-government which takes its
power from the people is Russian hegemony in the post-Soviet era.
The main tools which are used to maintain this hegemony such as security, legal ground and
economy must be the prior issues to deal with for post-Soviet republics. This topic requires deep
analysis and further studies. But in this essay’s limited framework, it can be said that full
independence cannot be achieved if the country is dependent on another in the sense of
legality, economy or security and if its power does not rest on people. Furthermore, state
formation is not enough if the self-government is not democratic.
