The demise of the former Yugoslavia was brought about by various secessionist movements seeking international recognition of statehood. This book provides a critical analysis from an international law perspective of the break-up of Yugoslavia.
Although international recognition was granted to the former Yugoslav republics of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Macedonia, the claims of secessionist movements that sought a revision of existing internal federal borders were rejected. The basis upon which the post-secession international borders were accepted in international law involved novel applications of international law principles of self-determination of peoples and uti possidetis. This book traces the developments of these principles, and the historical development of Yugoslavia's internal borders.

1. Introduction
2. Nationalism and Self-Determination
3. The 'Nation' as a 'People'
4. The Principle of Uti Possidetis in Latin America
5. The Principle of Uti Possidetis in Asia & Africa
6. The National Question and Internal Administrative Borders in Yugoslavia 1918-1991
7. The International Response to and Course of the Yugoslav Secessions
8. The Badinter Commission: Secession, Self-Determination and Uti Possidetis
Conclusion