how did the peace treaties both follow and violate Wilson principle of self-determination?
To understand how the peace treaties following World War I both followed and violated Wilson's principle of self-determination, we first need to have clarity on what this principle entails. Self-determination, as outlined by President Woodrow Wilson, is the right of a group of people to decide their own political status, form of government, and pursue their own economic, social, and cultural development.
Following the end of World War I, the peace treaties, primarily the Treaty of Versailles, were negotiated and signed. While they attempted to establish a new world order based on Wilson's principles, they also fell short in certain aspects.
1. Followed self-determination:
The peace treaties did recognize and respect the principle of self-determination in several instances. For example:
a. Dissolution of Empires: The treaties led to the disintegration of large empires, including the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Russian Empire. This allowed various ethnic groups the opportunity to assert their independence and establish their own states, aligning with the concept of self-determination.
b. Creation of New Nations: The peace treaties led to the creation of new nations such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. These states were formed based on the principle of self-determination, granting specific ethnic groups their desired autonomy and independence.
2. Violated self-determination:
Despite the attempts to uphold self-determination, the peace treaties also violated this principle in certain ways:
a. Territorial Disputes: The redrawing of borders and allocation of territories sometimes overlooked the desires and rights of certain ethnic groups. For instance, the Treaty of Versailles imposed territorial adjustments that led to the division of various ethnic communities, such as the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia, causing tension and grievances.
b. Colonized Territories: Self-determination was not extended to colonized territories associated with European powers. These regions, despite having legitimate claims for independence, were not granted the right to self-determine their political status or form of government as envisaged by Wilson.
c. Mandates and Protectorates: Instead of granting full independence, some territories were placed under mandates or protectorates, effectively denying them the right to complete self-determination. This was especially apparent in various regions of the Middle East and Africa.
In summary, while the peace treaties following World War I recognized and implemented self-determination to some extent by dissolving empires and creating new nations, they also violated this principle by disregarding ethnic boundaries, denying independence to colonized territories, and establishing mandates or protectorates. The realization of self-determination in its true form was compromised due to geopolitical and power dynamics during the negotiation process.
The answer can be found in the opening "Summary" of this web site:
http://www.johndclare.net/EA6.htm