Replies

Sounds nice, but utopian

This is not utopian. This is just a norm of decent behaviour, like: "Thou shall not kill". Has anybody in the human history complied wholly to this norm ?

What if some ethnic groups consider their borders unjust and want piece of their neighbors ?

Yes, this is a real problem. But I think it can be solved. First of all, they have to establish what lands they want to put to the plebiscite. This is of course a part of the negotiation. If there are disagreements, they can always divide the disputed territory into very small parts, and put every part to plebiscite separately. This has been tried out in the history: e.g. Polish-German plebiscites in 1918-1922 (I hope the dates are correct: I don't have my history book at hand).

What if some Chechen Nationalists will demand return to Chechnya "historic borders"

This is a real problem too. But you have the same problem with Basque nationalists for example, and Serb nationalists. All extremistts should be treated equally: i.e. harshly. But first make the referendum, then fight the extremists.

What happens if Germans will demand return to previously German lands in Western Poland from which they or their ancestors were expelled at the end or after World War II ? What if they want to secede from Poland and reunite with Germany ?

You found my raw nerve, because I'm Polish. But I'll tell you this: if there was a solid territory in Poland, inhabited by a majority of Germans, and those Germans would be in favour of independence, or the reunification with Germany, I would say (mind you, I'm risking banishment now) : yes, let them have it.

Who will determine which claims to which land are more valid ? On what basis ?

I think my criteria are very clear. The basis is the will of the nation.

You see what happens when respect to currently internationally recognized borders (no matter how they came to be previously) is completely substituted by emotions about history and sympathies to this or that ethnic or national group? We may open Pandorra box of historical claims and counterclaims.

I do not think so. My theory is fully rational. No emotions at all. I think that the situation when the internationally recognized borders are unjust is far more dangerous.

But I'll tell you this: if there was a solid territory in Poland, inhabited by a majority of Germans, and those Germans would be in favour of independence, or the reunification with Germany, I would say (mind you, I'm risking banishment now) : yes, let them have it.

How very fortunate the communists had expelled all Germans from those territories for you! When Serbs tried to do the same with Albanians in Kosovo they were bombed by NATO.

You seem to be really concerned about self-determination. How about Russians in Latvia? Should their capital Riga where over 50 percent population are not Latvians hold a referendum and become a free city? Then, how about Crimea with 90% Russian population? How about East of Ukraine? I am all for Donetsk to hold a referendum. The sooner the better pls.

"I think that the situation when the internationally recognized borders are unjust is far more dangerous. "

Well with all due respect to your good natured proposals, I'm going to keep on playing a guessing game. Who'll decide when internationally recognized borders are just and when they are not ? Based on what criteria ? Is it History, language, culture, religion, ethnicity or something else ? Is it an Ancient History or more recent one ?

One of the Adolf Hitler stepping stones to power was the claims that Versaille treaty carving up parts of Germany to France, Czechoslovakia or Poland was "unjust" partitioning of German Nation. Islam believes that all the world should be Islamic and if the land that was previously under Islamic rule and then ceased to be (like Spain), this land was "stolen" from Islam. Previously "just" borders can become "unjust" overtime due to immigration. Example--Islamic immigration into Europe. Many Muslim immigrants and their descendants simply don't assimilate into the traditional cultures of Britain, France, Germany, etc. and complain about discrimination from Native populations. Should the Islamic anclaves in Europe be given autonomies then rendering the current European borders obsolete or unjust ? Or should native British, French, Germans, etc, demand that Muslim Immigrants and their descendants assimilate or leave ? What would be just in this case ?