When are parts of a country alllowed to break off and want independence?

Question

without the larger country fighting tooth and nail not to lose territory???

It seems to me that in some cases the USA supports the breaking away faction, and in other cases the USA says the breaking away faction is not entitled to do so. So which is it?

Answer 1

You didn't mention biggest factor-- How many USA oil companies are in area you speak.

Answer 2

good question, if the USA supports breakaways then the South should be allowed to restart the confederacy.

Answer 3

The official US answer is genocide. According to the US, Kosovo had it, South Ossetia did not. According to the Russians, South Ossetia also has genocide.

This angered the Russians as US-friendly Kosovo was allowed to break off of Russian-friendly Serbia, but Russian-friendly South Ossetia is not allowed to break off of US-friendly Georgia.

It's not as much about oil as it is about the US and Russia competing for influence.

Answer 4

Well they can do it if they have a large military like the Russians backing them.