Suchergebnisse

States are the main subjects of international law. Therefore it surprises that international law does not offer any legally binding definition of the state. Instead States apply the three elements theory of Georg Jellinek for political reasons, because they want to avoid the capability of state-like entities to enter into international relations with other States. One has to see this approach of the international community against the background of the non-acceptance of secessions. One of the consequences of this policy is the appearance of more and more sub-state entities like autonomous territories or federal States. It is an open question whether this approach is a successful one since in most of the cases the international community was ready to recognize de facto regimes. Adapted from the source document.

Does the European Security Strategy (ESS) serve as the guiding principle for the deployment of ESDP operations? Drawing on an analysis of EU documents as well as on expert interviews, this article provides an assessment of the strategic aims & political motives behind ESDP operations. It concludes that in many cases a driving force has been to defend Europe's internal security, particularly by focusing on capacity-building & on fighting organized cross-border crime. By contrast, "altruistic" humanitarian motives have mostly played a lesser role. Rather, political symbolism in terms of demonstrating EU commitment in crises is often a key factor. Adapted from the source document.

The article discusses the invocation of the responsibility to protect principle after the cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in May 2008. After looking back on the failed attempts of the United Nations to engage in Myanmar and to improve the human rights situation from outside, the article analyses the discussion in the Security Council on the responsibility to protect. The criteria for invoking the principle of responsibility to protect were not fulfilled during the crisis and the permanent Security Council members China and Russia blocked a move to further intervene in the internal affairs of the country. Accordingly, the discussion also served as a warning for the military regime in Myanmar and, therefore, triggered a new willingess to cooperate with the international community. Adapted from the source document.

"Die Erklärung der Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo wirft die Frage auf, ob ein völkerrechtlicher Rahmen für die Sezession einer Minderheit aus dem Staatsverband formuliert werden kann. Der Aufsatz entwickelt ihn als Umwandlung des materiellen Spannungsverhältnisses zwischen Territorialität und Selbstbestimmung in einen internationalisierten Verhandlungsprozess, der die Möglichkeit politischer Organisation als Kontinuum begreift. Dieser Rahmen bildet sich in der Praxis der internationalen Gemeinschaft zum Kosovo ab, das damit im Grundsatz über die Besonderheiten des Einzelfalls hinausweist. Weitergehende Überlegungen zum Potenzial des Selbstbestimmungsrechts als normativer Kern politischer Organisation auch in Mehrebenensystemen schließen den Beitrag ab." (Autorenreferat)