  Primary right theories are of two types: Ascriptivist (predominantly nationalist) theories and plebiscitary (or majoritarian) theories. The former hold that certain groups whose memberships are defined by what are sometimes called ascriptive characteristics, simply by virtue of being those sorts of groups, have a unilateral (claim-)right to secede. Ascriptive characteristics are those that are attributed to individuals independently of their choice and include being of the same nation or being a “distinct people.” The most common form of ascriptivist theory holds that nations as such have a right of self-determination that includes the right to secede in order to have their own state.