Abstract
This chapter introduces States as subjects of international law. First, it addresses what can be called ‘existential questions’: what it takes for new States to arise, under what circumstances States endure through time, and what might cause them to dissolve or otherwise become extinct. Second, it covers questions of ‘ essence’: what States might be thought to be, what their relationship is with the concept of sovereignty, and how they might be considered equal notwithstanding their obvious differences in power, size, and resources. Finally, it canvasses the legal consequences of Statehood. Overall, States are some of the most complex and contested subjects of international law, notwithstanding the fact that they are also some of the most powerful and visible. As such, this chapter should be read not as a definitive treatment of Statehood but rather as an analytical guide to many of the controversial issues that States generate for students, scholars, and practicing lawyers alike.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Public International Law |
| Subtitle of host publication | A Multi-Perspectivist Approach |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 7.1 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 9 Aug 2023 |