This book deals with the international law concerning overseas territories and the right of such territories to choose another relationship with their mother country. Many examples are studied, such as the British, French, American, Danish and New Zealand territories. May such islands choose to become independent, or to become an integral part of the mother country? Do they have the freedom to determine their own...

This book deals with the international law concerning overseas territories and the right of such territories to choose another relationship with their mother country. Many examples are studied, such as the British, French, American, Danish and New Zealand territories. May such islands choose to become independent, or to become an integral part of the mother country? Do they have the freedom to determine their own political status, to act on the international scene? The case of the Dutch territories in the Caribbean is dealt with in more detail, specifically their constitutional relationship to the Netherlands and the European Union. Through comparison of the different solutions that other states have chosen, a number of best practices are identified.