[tut-urut-utut]

> I would not be starkly opposed to Crimean independence, nor even Russian-integration, but in essence it looks like Russia took Crimea and then held a fake referendum to legitimize it.

> But the question always goes - where do we draw lines. Should we support the concept of the Confederate States of America seceding from the United States? If California or Texas wanted to secede, should we support it? Wales? Okinawa? Quebec?

Why drawing a line? It's either you allow everyone to choose their country, or noone. Allowing Crimea but not California, or allowing Kosovo but not Mexico and allowing Slovakia and not Catalonia is the worst solution. Right now, it's completely arbitrary, and this arbitration is what leads to wars and conflicts.

I would say, let them all decide for themselves.

Do you want to allow Ukraine to be independent? Then also allow Donbas republic to be independent of Ukraine, and consequently allow cities in Donbas that wish to stay in Ukraine to secede from Donbas. And even within those cities, allow neighbourhoods that want to stay in Donbas to stay.

Why not, if that's what people want? And that would mean no war. Yes, it may be complex in an administrative way. Who wants to show passport to cross the street and go to the store. Or to cross borders twice when going to work? Or to apply for a work permit? But exactly that complexity would quickly lead to different agreements and territorial rearrangements if people decide it's better for them. Again, why not? If they agree, they can change the state every year or so. If you let people power to decide, they will be more responsible for purely selfish reasons. That's how capitalism works, why not politics?

As soon as you draw a line who can and who can't decide, you are creating a conflict that may or may not lead to war and other atrocities.

[tut-urut-utut]

Wanted to edit the previous comment, but it won't let me anymore. I usually don't comment about downvotes, but here I'd really like to know the reason?

What is so controversial about giving the right of self-determination to everyone?

If everyone, regardless of the colour, race of gender has equal right, why some people should, and some should not determine if they want to live in one country? You can even choose your gender now, but can't live in an independent state?

Maybe I am missing something obvious. I Would really like a counterargument here instead of simple downvotes.

[smcl]

I didn’t downvote but one glaring issue is that you’re well of the mark here:

> Allowing Crimea but not California, or allowing Kosovo but not Mexico and allowing Slovakia and not Catalonia

Slovakia had a popular recognised referendum and decided to vote for the velvet divorce

Catalonia had an informal referendum that was not legally recognised, but afaik there is still technically a path to do so.

Kosovo - I do not know a great deal about Kosovo.

California can secede and there doesn’t seem to be a huge interest in doing so.

Mexico … idk where you’re going with this one.

But importantly in Crimea the Russian “little green men” showed up, took over, hastily ran a referendum that was very dubious and happened to just coincidentally deliver the result that said exactly what the Russians wanted. It was a fix.

I think you know this though, and that you’re engaging in what’s known as “sealioning” :-)

[tut-urut-utut]

Thanks for the clarification. In my previous comments, I assumed that everyone should have the right to organize a referendum and show a clear will for the independence, but didn't write the assumption down. And the examples are a bit unrealistic.

> I think you know this though, and that you’re engaging in what’s known as “sealioning” :-)

I learned a new word today. Thanks, although I don't think I'm engaged in it, since I idealistically think that everyone, with the accent to everyone, should have a right of association and disassociation with willing partners, and that our current state system is not the healthiest way of governing humans.