On the Morality of Secession: Buchanan and the Fact–Sensitive Secession

Abstract

The object of this paper is to discuss the issue of secession from a normative moral perspective. It defends Allen Buchanan’s position according to which a fact-sensitive moral theorization about secession is of great value and that Remedial Right Only Theories can solely justify secession. On the other hand, Primary Rights Theories, while attractive, are not sufficient to justify secession, for they cannot overcome serious objections, such as the right of the state to its territory.