| Summary: | Indigenous rights are among the most rapidly progressing domains in international law. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted more than a decade ago, and now the task consists of implementing the rights within the state structure. While the concept of self- determination constitutes the very core of indigenous rights, it also represents the most difficult challenge to establish within the existing system of sovereign states. This thesis seeks to contribute to the discussion regarding the implementation of indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination within states. By examining the public discourse surrounding the concept of self-determination in relation to the Sami people in the Swedish political system, it’s possible to obtain a deeper understanding of the dynamics in play. The thesis focuses on analyzing the core elements of self- determination and the formulation of the perceived problems surrounding the political measures of the concept. The discourse analysis, examining the period 2006-2017, concludes that the understanding of the concept of self-determination is linked to the political status of the indigenous people, the political debate within the national assembly, the perception of possible solutions and the function of indigenous institutions.
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