Territorial integrity

Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states. Conversely it states that border changes that are imposed by force are acts of aggression.

There is some tension between the concept of territorial integrity and the concept of self-determination.

In recent years there has been tension between this principle and the concept of humanitarian intervention. An example of where the concept of territorial integrity and humanitarian intervention collide is the Kosovo War.

See also Territory