A Right to Autonomy?

In the IR sense.

I do not think there is. Autonomy is something that has to be negotiated between the province and the central government. The State as a whole should have a determination of whether or not carve up the political scene of its own territory. There should be no guarantee from international law or other countries to support regions becoming autonomous. That would violate the sovereignty right that appears to be the norm in international relations.

Of course this could be balanced by concerns over regional destabilization or possible civil war as a preventative measure. Then other countries or international organizations could step in to assist in the resolution of the conflict. The only other way a outside force should become involved is if the central government asks.

I guess the big question is how to maintain the all important legitimacy of whatever solution comes about.

Added Thoughts:
Autonomy can not be a right. Were it to be a right, then the central government would be put under incredible strain by it's various provinces. It would be forced with a choice, conform to what the province wants, or let it go. It becomes even more of a problem when there are more then one provinces making a demand on the central government. There are bound to be conflicts of interest and at the very least budgetary limitations.

The right to autonomy could possibly mean the end of the nation-state as we know it. Autonomy is the first step to independence. If a region seeking autonomy can not get what they want from the central government, they are more likely to secede and establish their own government. If the central government can not accommodate a region, it will choose secession. It will not sit patiently by waiting for the central government to come around.

Maybe I am not making the distinction between autonomy and secession wide enough.