From the Vienna to the Paris System: International Politics and the Entangled Histories of Human Rights, Forced Deportations, and Civilizing Missions.

HUMAN rights; BORDERLANDS; NATIONAL self-determination; NATION-state; POLITICAL autonomy; RIGHT to self-determination; INTERNATIONAL relations; NATIONALISM

This article presents an overview of the development and international recognition of human rights. The author conceives of two paradigms of international organization: the Vienna system and the Paris system. The Paris system, created in the aftermath of World War I, emphasized sovereignty based on nationalities. This arose from the widespread rejection of multi-ethnic empires and embrace of self-determination. The author contends it is this insistence on ethnic homogeneity that led to much of the 20th century's worst humanitarian crises.