Generally speaking, the right to self-determination means the right of a group of people to freely determine and control their political, economic or socio-cultural destiny. The development of the right to self-determination goes hand in hand with the development of government. This right or concept finds its origins as a political and constitutional principle in the democratic principles proclaimed by the American and French revolutions of 1776 and 1789 respectively. However, its development as a legal principle of international law can be traced to the works of Joseph Stalin and Woodrow Wilson in 1913 and 1916 respectively. TYPES OF SELF-DETERMINATION There are two types of self-determination: 1. Internal self-determination2. External Self-Determination • Internal self-determination means participatory democracy as it is seen as the right to decide the form and identity of rulers by the citizens of a state and the right of a particular group of people in the state to participate in state decision-making and at the state level as leaders. Internal self-determination can also be seen as the right of the people to exercise their cultural, linguistic, religious or political practices within their state. External self-determination means the right to decide the political status of a people and their place on the international stage. in relation to other States, including the right to secede from existing States of which the person or group of persons is concerned and to create a new independent State. External self-determination is also described as total self-determination.CRITICISM ON THE RIGHTFinancial cost of self-determination - It is argued that the economic or financial cost of acquiring...... middle of paper...... minority peoples and communities. In this regard, it is important to understand self-determination as a process of continuous choice for the achievement of human security and the satisfaction of human needs with a wide range of possible outcomes and expressions adapted to different specific situations. These may include guarantees of cultural security, forms of self-governance and autonomy, economic autonomy, effective participation at the international level, land rights and the ability to care for the natural environment, spiritual freedom and the various forms that guarantee freedom. the expression and protection of collective identity with dignity. Self-determination is important because it contributes to the achievement of fully participatory democratic processes among people seeking to achieve self-determination, this may include a referendum where appropriate..