PIL week 4 assignment
Assignment 1
1. Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Limburg
Consider whether:
1. i.) Limburg is a state.
Under the Montevideo Convention (Art.1) Limburg would fulfil the criteria of
permanent population, a defined territory, government and the capacity to enter
relations with other States. This Convention is only a guideline of sorts but could
reflect customary international law and only provides help in concluding what is a
State or not.
In the Kosovo advisory opinion (para 81) additional criteria is whether there was an
illegal use of force, a violation of the right of self-determination, or a racist policy. If
any of these are fulfilled, then the group must not be recognised as a State by the
international community.
The declaratory theory is the factual criteria/recognition is a political factor. The
constitutive theory is that a State becomes a State only through recognition of other
States. The Netherlands does not recognise/accept the independence of Limburg
(territorial integrity) – counter claim. This counter claim can be changed either by
acceptance of the parent State or by a lot of other States recognising it as a State.
Limburg is classified as a State to those 18 States that have recognised it as such,
however it is not a State to all the other States who have refused to recognise
Limburg as a State.
2. ii.) To what extent would your position from point (i) change if
Belgium intervened militarily to help the rebel group ‘Freedom for
Limburg’ establish effective control over the territory of Limburg.
If these facts were applied then the Kosovo advisory opinion become important
since there is an illegal use of force. This is also enshrined in Art.2(4) UN Charter
against the use of force. This would lead to the conclusion that Limburg is not a State
and that current States cannot recognise it since it is in breach of international law.
Assignment 2
2. Explain the legal status under international law of:
, · Catalonia
Under control of Spain, wants to become independent, it is not a colony, not recognised by
many
· The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus is legally part of the EU, but law is suspended due to north being
under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which the EU does not
recognise.
· Palestine
Although many States recognise it as a State it does not yet have an effective control over its
own government which is one of the main criteria for Statehood in the Montevideo
Convention. Palestine is currently an observer State in the UN. Sweden became the 135th
member of the United Nations to officially recognize Palestine as an independent
state. As of 3 August 2018, 137 of the 193 member states of the United Nations and
two non-member states have recognized the State of Palestine.
· Kosovo
It is not a party to the UN however it is recognised by 115 other States. However, it does
fulfil the Montevideo Convention which helps in its claim for Statehood.
· Taiwan
Meets the Montevideo Convention criteria. There is the recognition that it is the ROC. The
issue is who is the legitimate government of Taiwan regardless of it being part of China.
· Daesh (ISIS, ISIL)
Is the Montevideo Convention fulfilled? The population may exist but some probably do not
wish to be a part of ISIS itself. There is also the illegal use of force as well as genocide.
Recognition is also not happening for ISIS. There are no good arguments for ISIS actually
being a State and is being classed as a terrorist organisation.
-----------------
Tutorial notes
1. Is Limburg a state?
-Limburg is not a state even though it fulfils Montevideo criteria, few states recognised it as a
state, NL did not agree with succession of Limburg and bc of the reasons claimed by people
(monarchy oppressing them without any evidence)
-it was recognised by 18 states; how many is enough? No concrete answer but more than 100
and depends which states recognise
-if they were oppressed they might have right to self determination
-self determination only applies in colonialism, and it does not mean directly it is right to
independence, it can also be used now not to only colonialism
-outside of colonialism it is not automatically independence for such right
-define colonialism-is maas colonial possession of NL? No, colonial possession is overseas
like Kongo a part of Belgium colony
-int law understands colonialism in terms of overseas possession-saltwater theory-there needs
to be saltwater between colonial oppressor and colonial possession and territory (Scotland is
not colonial possession of UK) (southern Rhodesia was colony of UK)
-criticism-what if your oppressor is next to you and is not called colonialism
Assignment 1
1. Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Limburg
Consider whether:
1. i.) Limburg is a state.
Under the Montevideo Convention (Art.1) Limburg would fulfil the criteria of
permanent population, a defined territory, government and the capacity to enter
relations with other States. This Convention is only a guideline of sorts but could
reflect customary international law and only provides help in concluding what is a
State or not.
In the Kosovo advisory opinion (para 81) additional criteria is whether there was an
illegal use of force, a violation of the right of self-determination, or a racist policy. If
any of these are fulfilled, then the group must not be recognised as a State by the
international community.
The declaratory theory is the factual criteria/recognition is a political factor. The
constitutive theory is that a State becomes a State only through recognition of other
States. The Netherlands does not recognise/accept the independence of Limburg
(territorial integrity) – counter claim. This counter claim can be changed either by
acceptance of the parent State or by a lot of other States recognising it as a State.
Limburg is classified as a State to those 18 States that have recognised it as such,
however it is not a State to all the other States who have refused to recognise
Limburg as a State.
2. ii.) To what extent would your position from point (i) change if
Belgium intervened militarily to help the rebel group ‘Freedom for
Limburg’ establish effective control over the territory of Limburg.
If these facts were applied then the Kosovo advisory opinion become important
since there is an illegal use of force. This is also enshrined in Art.2(4) UN Charter
against the use of force. This would lead to the conclusion that Limburg is not a State
and that current States cannot recognise it since it is in breach of international law.
Assignment 2
2. Explain the legal status under international law of:
, · Catalonia
Under control of Spain, wants to become independent, it is not a colony, not recognised by
many
· The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus is legally part of the EU, but law is suspended due to north being
under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which the EU does not
recognise.
· Palestine
Although many States recognise it as a State it does not yet have an effective control over its
own government which is one of the main criteria for Statehood in the Montevideo
Convention. Palestine is currently an observer State in the UN. Sweden became the 135th
member of the United Nations to officially recognize Palestine as an independent
state. As of 3 August 2018, 137 of the 193 member states of the United Nations and
two non-member states have recognized the State of Palestine.
· Kosovo
It is not a party to the UN however it is recognised by 115 other States. However, it does
fulfil the Montevideo Convention which helps in its claim for Statehood.
· Taiwan
Meets the Montevideo Convention criteria. There is the recognition that it is the ROC. The
issue is who is the legitimate government of Taiwan regardless of it being part of China.
· Daesh (ISIS, ISIL)
Is the Montevideo Convention fulfilled? The population may exist but some probably do not
wish to be a part of ISIS itself. There is also the illegal use of force as well as genocide.
Recognition is also not happening for ISIS. There are no good arguments for ISIS actually
being a State and is being classed as a terrorist organisation.
-----------------
Tutorial notes
1. Is Limburg a state?
-Limburg is not a state even though it fulfils Montevideo criteria, few states recognised it as a
state, NL did not agree with succession of Limburg and bc of the reasons claimed by people
(monarchy oppressing them without any evidence)
-it was recognised by 18 states; how many is enough? No concrete answer but more than 100
and depends which states recognise
-if they were oppressed they might have right to self determination
-self determination only applies in colonialism, and it does not mean directly it is right to
independence, it can also be used now not to only colonialism
-outside of colonialism it is not automatically independence for such right
-define colonialism-is maas colonial possession of NL? No, colonial possession is overseas
like Kongo a part of Belgium colony
-int law understands colonialism in terms of overseas possession-saltwater theory-there needs
to be saltwater between colonial oppressor and colonial possession and territory (Scotland is
not colonial possession of UK) (southern Rhodesia was colony of UK)
-criticism-what if your oppressor is next to you and is not called colonialism
