Dewaratugedeanom asks what gives countries the rights to make territorial claims.

Some time ago I posted a comment under the thread “Fitna by Geert Wilders” concerning the question of territorial rights.

Although there were no reactions to this particular comment, the number of times the issue has come up as well as the intensity of the claims from some commentators in this forum, make it in my opinion worth to devote a separate topic to it. The more so because it bears significant relevance to Indonesia’s own history.

The question is:

What gives people the right to claim a territory as their own, considering the fact that the history of mankind on this planet has been one of constant migration? And how and to what extent does one define territory? Does it include everything beneath the surface and if so to what depth? Does it include the space above it as well as the clouds floating by? Does it include all wildlife, sedentary as well as trekking?

Is the right to claim a territory based on

• the mere fact of being born in a particular place?
• having cultivated the place to provide shelter, livelihood and culture and to what extent?
• the ability to secure and defend the place against transgressors?
• historical claims because forefathers have been dwelling there?

Any other criteria?