This is notably an era of worldwide concern for the problems and potentials of self-determination from Kashmir to Quebec and from Yugoslavia to Australia. Here, a global group of experts have come together to provide trenchant insights into the issues, dynamics, cultural and political components, threats and solutions in situations where peoples are seeking various forms of autonomy.

Inspired by Martin Ennals, long the wise Director-General of Amnesty International, the book has been edited by a law professor and an anthropologist at the university where he was Professor of Human Rights, and where he came to meet his premature death. The result is a set of penetrating analytical essays from across the world, written by profoundly knowledgeable individuals widely known in international law, anthropology, indigenous leadership, political studies and cultural linguistics.

With special contributions also by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Lord Ennals, this is indeed a distinguished and timely book.