Autonomy as a Means of Protection

Autonomy is a principle that exists to allow particular groups, often territorially-based, to conduct their own affairs and, in being able to govern themselves, they are able to express autonomous regimes, legal regimes, rules that pertain directly to their values, and seek to protect and promote those rules. Autonomy in conjunction with the need for equality can give us an enhanced system of governance; an example of this can be seen in China. Personal autonomy pertains to allowing people to live their lives according to their value system–for example, one contained in religious texts. These can be in conflict with legal state systems but offer minority groups, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups dignity while creating possibilities for new forms of oppression.