The Declaration as Global Grammar: Inventing Modern Self-Determination in the Human Story

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Autori principali: Revista, Zen, HISTORY, 10
Natura: Recurso digital
Pubblicazione: Zenodo 2025
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author Revista, Zen
HISTORY, 10
author_facet Revista, Zen
HISTORY, 10
contents This paper explores the foundational role of declarations in constructing the modern concept of self-determination, framing them as a "global grammar" that structures international political discourse and action. From the Enlightenment-era proclamations of rights to the anti-colonial manifestos of the twentieth century, declarations have served not merely as statements of intent but as performative acts that invent and legitimize new political subjects and normative frameworks. We analyze how these texts established a lexicon, syntax, and set of argumentative rules that shaped the understanding and application of self-determination across diverse historical and geopolitical contexts. By examining key declarations, this study traces their evolution from articulations of national sovereignty to universal human rights, highlighting their often contradictory and selectively applied nature. The paper argues that this declarative grammar, while ostensibly promoting universal ideals, has also been instrumentalized to perpetuate hierarchies and control the terms of political agency. Ultimately, it reveals the enduring power of these textual artifacts in shaping the "human story" of political emancipation and the complex legacy of self-determination in international relations.
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spellingShingle The Declaration as Global Grammar: Inventing Modern Self-Determination in the Human Story
Revista, Zen
HISTORY, 10
This paper explores the foundational role of declarations in constructing the modern concept of self-determination, framing them as a "global grammar" that structures international political discourse and action. From the Enlightenment-era proclamations of rights to the anti-colonial manifestos of the twentieth century, declarations have served not merely as statements of intent but as performative acts that invent and legitimize new political subjects and normative frameworks. We analyze how these texts established a lexicon, syntax, and set of argumentative rules that shaped the understanding and application of self-determination across diverse historical and geopolitical contexts. By examining key declarations, this study traces their evolution from articulations of national sovereignty to universal human rights, highlighting their often contradictory and selectively applied nature. The paper argues that this declarative grammar, while ostensibly promoting universal ideals, has also been instrumentalized to perpetuate hierarchies and control the terms of political agency. Ultimately, it reveals the enduring power of these textual artifacts in shaping the "human story" of political emancipation and the complex legacy of self-determination in international relations.
title The Declaration as Global Grammar: Inventing Modern Self-Determination in the Human Story
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17789764