Not such a ‘sui generis’ case after all

Assessing the ICJ opinion on Kosovo

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11047243
AutoresJames Ker-Lindsay, James Ker‐lindsay (London School of Economics and Political Science, autor de correspondencia)
Año2011
Volumen39
Número1
Páginas1-11
Fecha de publicación2011-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaNationalities Papers (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0090-5992 • E-ISSN: 1465-3923
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1080/00905992.2010.532778
OpenAlexW2095572851
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas12

For 60 years, the international community has limited the right of territories to gain independence without the permission of the “parent state.” Such limits were, however, challenged when Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, in February 2008. As a result, Belgrade referred the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On 22 July 2010, it came back with its long-awaited decision. Taking a narrow view of the question, the majority argued that, in general, declarations of independence, as mere statements, do not violate international law unless stated otherwise by the Security Council. Thus, Kosovo's declaration of independence cannot be considered as being wholly “unique” – as those states that supported its statehood have claimed. On the key questions of whether Kosovo's secession is legal, or if it is even a state, they chose to avoid controversy. On these points, the international community is no clearer now than it was before the case

Advisory opinion · Constitution · Declaration of independence · Economic Justice · Independence (probability theory · International community · International court · International law · Political science · Politics · Public international law · Secession · State (computer science · European Politics and Security · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · Law · Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics