The "Problem" of national minorities
The core argument of this paper is that the problematization of national minorities stems from the rise and implementation of the doctrine of national self-determination. It identifies two specific ways national minorities are problematized related to the rise and implementation of this doctrine: 1) national minorities challenge the now solidified juridical nature of state boundaries (in theory and practice); and, 2) national minorities challenge the key tenets of the modern doctrine of legitimate political authority (i.e. congruence between «the people», «the nation» and «the state» and the authorization of rule via a contract between the governed and the governor). By drawing out these two related points, the piece puts forth the implicit argument that national minorities do not necessarily have to be viewed as a problem to be solved, but rather, can be managed in a more an effective and defensible way.