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Exceptionalism in Generic Situations - Should the Kosovo Advisory Opinion be regarded as sui generis?

Jasim, Roy LU (2023) LAGF03 20231
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
The right to remedial secession is one of the most divisive issues in interna-tional law. An increasing number of legal scholars have argued that such a right exists, but State practise has shown little support for such a right. Fol-lowing Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, the legality of remedial secession was put at the centre of attention once again. While the ICJ ruled that the declaration was not a violation of international law, they chose not to answer whether Kosovo had achieved statehood or not in order to avoid legitimising remedial secession as a part of international law. If the Advisory Opinion is seen to set a precedent on other conflicts, then it could serve as an important steppingstone... (More)
The right to remedial secession is one of the most divisive issues in interna-tional law. An increasing number of legal scholars have argued that such a right exists, but State practise has shown little support for such a right. Fol-lowing Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, the legality of remedial secession was put at the centre of attention once again. While the ICJ ruled that the declaration was not a violation of international law, they chose not to answer whether Kosovo had achieved statehood or not in order to avoid legitimising remedial secession as a part of international law. If the Advisory Opinion is seen to set a precedent on other conflicts, then it could serve as an important steppingstone for numerous separatist movements all around the world, like the Catalan in Spain. This has caused several states like Spain and Russia to not recognise Kosovo and the Advisory Opinion, as it could set “a dangerous precedent for other sepa-ratist movements”. Other states instead argued that Kosovo did have a right to secession, but that it set no precedent as the case was “exceptionally unique”. This argument stems from the fact that the humanitarian catastro-phe in Kosovo was remarkably unique, along with the heavy international involvement.
The purpose of this essay is threefold. Firstly, it seeks to clarify whether remedial secession is a part of international law or not. Secondly, it strives to apply the framework of international law to see whether Kosovo had a right to secession or not. Thirdly, it aims to answer if the Advisory Opinion is to be seen as too unique to set a precedent on other conflicts or if it can serve as a framework for future secessionist conflicts. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Rätten till “remedial secession” är en av de mest kontroversiella frågorna i internationell rätt. Ett större antal juridiska forskare har hävdat att en sådan rätt finns, men stater har visat sig motvilliga för att stödja en sådan rätt. Efter Kosovos självständighetsförklaring från Serbien 2008 sattes frågan om ”remedial secession” på spetsen igen. Trots att ICJ konstaterade att deras självständighetsförklaring inte strider mot internationell rätt så valde de att inte svara om Kosovo hade uppnått statskap för att undvika att legitimera en rätt till ”remedial secession” inom internationell rätt. Om deras rådgivande yttrande är att betraktas som ett prejudikat för andra conflikter så kan prejudikatet användas som ett viktigt förstasteg för... (More)
Rätten till “remedial secession” är en av de mest kontroversiella frågorna i internationell rätt. Ett större antal juridiska forskare har hävdat att en sådan rätt finns, men stater har visat sig motvilliga för att stödja en sådan rätt. Efter Kosovos självständighetsförklaring från Serbien 2008 sattes frågan om ”remedial secession” på spetsen igen. Trots att ICJ konstaterade att deras självständighetsförklaring inte strider mot internationell rätt så valde de att inte svara om Kosovo hade uppnått statskap för att undvika att legitimera en rätt till ”remedial secession” inom internationell rätt. Om deras rådgivande yttrande är att betraktas som ett prejudikat för andra conflikter så kan prejudikatet användas som ett viktigt förstasteg för flera andra seperatiströrelser runt om i världen till exempel katalanerna i Spanien. På grund av detta har flera stater som Spanien och Ryssland valt att inte erkänna Kosovo och det rådgivande yttrandet, då det kan sätta ”ett farligt prejudikat för framtida seperatistkonflikter”. Andra stater har istället hävdat att Kosovo hade en rätt till secession, men att den inte sätter ett prejudikat för att den var ”exceptionellt unik”. Argumentet tar sin grund i att den humanitära katastrofen i Kosovo var anmärkningsvärd unik, samt den stora internationella påverkan.
Syftet med uppsatsen är trefalt. För det första så försöker uppsatsen att klargöra om ”remedial secession” är en del av internationell rätt eller ej. För det andra strävar uppsatsen att applicera ramverket för internationell rätt på Kosovokonflikten för att se om de hade en rätt till secession. För det tredje så söker uppsatsen att svara om det rådgivande yttranden ska betraktas som ”för unik” för att vara prejudicerande eller om det kan användas som ett prejudikat för framtida secessioniströrelser. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Jasim, Roy LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20231
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
folkrätt, public international law
language
English
id
9115906
date added to LUP
2023-06-29 13:03:32
date last changed
2023-06-29 13:03:32
@misc{9115906,
  abstract     = {{The right to remedial secession is one of the most divisive issues in interna-tional law. An increasing number of legal scholars have argued that such a right exists, but State practise has shown little support for such a right. Fol-lowing Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, the legality of remedial secession was put at the centre of attention once again. While the ICJ ruled that the declaration was not a violation of international law, they chose not to answer whether Kosovo had achieved statehood or not in order to avoid legitimising remedial secession as a part of international law. If the Advisory Opinion is seen to set a precedent on other conflicts, then it could serve as an important steppingstone for numerous separatist movements all around the world, like the Catalan in Spain. This has caused several states like Spain and Russia to not recognise Kosovo and the Advisory Opinion, as it could set “a dangerous precedent for other sepa-ratist movements”. Other states instead argued that Kosovo did have a right to secession, but that it set no precedent as the case was “exceptionally unique”. This argument stems from the fact that the humanitarian catastro-phe in Kosovo was remarkably unique, along with the heavy international involvement. 
The purpose of this essay is threefold. Firstly, it seeks to clarify whether remedial secession is a part of international law or not. Secondly, it strives to apply the framework of international law to see whether Kosovo had a right to secession or not. Thirdly, it aims to answer if the Advisory Opinion is to be seen as too unique to set a precedent on other conflicts or if it can serve as a framework for future secessionist conflicts.}},
  author       = {{Jasim, Roy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Exceptionalism in Generic Situations - Should the Kosovo Advisory Opinion be regarded as sui generis?}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}