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One of the key decisions of the Law of the Sea Arbitration decision of 2016 was that the Itu Aba (Taiping) 'island' held by the Republic of China (roc) was not an island at all. Recognising the ongoing policy shifts by the roc since 2008 regarding the South China Sea, this article contends that the roc would do well to declare Itu Aba an international haven for scientific exploration. Such a move would buttress the roc's international position, appease its allies, and allow it to maintain some form of control over its interests in the South China Sea.

1. Introduction -- 2. Theoretical grounds for international law -- 3. Recognition, transformation, and power -- 4. Transgressing problems of customary international law -- 5. A descriptive moment for freedom of religion or belief -- 6. Human security from a tranformative context -- 7. Non-governmental organizations and power -- 8. Conclusion.

Cover -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- List of Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- Albania -- Armenia -- Azerbaijan -- Bulgaria Part I -- Bulgaria Part II -- Croatia -- Czech Republic -- Estonia -- Georgia -- Hungary -- Kosovo -- Latvia -- Lithuania -- Moldova -- Poland -- Romania -- Russia -- Serbia -- Slovakia -- Slovenia -- Ukraine -- Conclusions -- Annex: The Questionnaire Initially Provided to the National Experts -- Index -- Acknowledgements.

The Holy Places of Jerusalem's Old City are among the most contested sites in the world and the 'ground zero' of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tensions regarding control are rooted in misperceptions over the status of the sites, the role of external bodies such as religious organizations and civil society, and misunderstanding regarding the political roles of the many actors associated with the sites. In this volume, Marshall J. Breger and Leonard M. Hammer clarify a complex and fraught situation by providing insight into the laws and rules pertaining to Jerusalem's holy sites. Providing a compendium of important legal sources and broad-form policy analysis, they show how laws pertaining to Holy Places have been implemented and engaged. The book weaves aspects of history, politics, and religion that have played a role in creation and identification of the 'law.' It also offers solutions for solving some of the central challenges related to the creation, control, and use of Holy Places in Jerusalem.

Religion and religious nationalism have long played a central role in many ethnic and national conflicts, and the importance of religion to national identity means that territorial disputes can often focus on the contestation of holy places and sacred territory. Looking at the case of Israel and Palestine, this book highlights the nexus between religion and politics through the process of classifying holy places, giving them meaning and interpreting their standing in religious and civil law, within governmental policy, and within international and local communities. Written by a team of renowned scholars from within and outside the region, this book follows on from Holy Places in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Confrontation and Co-existence to provide an insightful look into the politics of religion and space. Examining Jerusalem's holy basin from a variety of perspectives and disciplines, it provides unique insights into the way Jewish, Christian and Muslim authorities, scholars and jurists regard sacred space and the processes, grass roots and official, by which spaces become holy in the eyes of particular communities. Filling an important gap in the literature on Middle East peacemaking, the book will be of interest to scholars and students of the Middle East conflict, conflict resolution, political science, urban studies and history of religion. ; https://scholarship.law.edu/fac_books/1001/thumbnail.jpg

This book addresses the major generators of conflict and toleration at shared holy places in Palestine and Israel. Examining the religious, political and legal issues, the authors show how the holy sites have been a focus of both conflict and cooperation between different communities. Bringing together the views of a diverse group of experts on the region, Holy Places in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict provides a new and multifaceted approach to holy places, giving an in-depth analysis of relevant issues. Themes covered include legal regulation of holy places; nationalization and reproduction of holy space; sharing and contesting holy places; identity politics; and popular legends of holy sites. Chapters cover in detail how recognition and authorization of a new site come about; the influence of religious belief versus political ideology on the designation of holy places; the centrality of such areas to the surrounding political developments; and how historical background and culture affect the perception of a holy site and relations between conflicting groups. This new approach to the study of holy places and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has great significance for a variety of disciplines, and will be of great interest in the fields of law, politics, religious studies, anthropology and sociology. ; https://scholarship.law.edu/fac_books/1002/thumbnail.jpg