International recognition

We argue that international recognition is also one of the essential elements of the state. International recognition refers to the formal recognition of the sovereignty of the State in question by international organizations and other States. In this context, we may recall the process of de-colonization and formal recognition of independent states. The UN Committee on de-colonization, formed in 1961 by the UN General Assembly, monitored the de-colonization process in what it called Non-Self Governing Territories. These territories were under the UN Trusteeship Agreements before being sovereign states. Significance of international recognition could be borne by the fact that there have been territories that before attaining international recognition were either under UN ‘Trusteeship’ (e.g., Western Samoa before independence in 1962 or New Guinea before independence in 1975), or under a ‘Condominium’ of certain powers (e.g., the New Hebrides under an Anglo-French condominium before independence in 1980) or as a Protectorate (the Gold Coast protectorate before independence as Ghana in 1957). A recent example of the significance of international recognition can be found in the case of the independence of East Timor or Timor-Leste where international delegations monitored the process of independence and decided the terms of autonomy. However, this has introduced the concept of shared sovereignty in the lexicon of political theory. This means that before granting international recognition, external powers could exercise decision-making during the transition and during the period of peace-making, peace-keeping and peace-building.

It can be argued that the logic of international recognition is an outcome of the concept of sovereignty and not its necessary condition. Furthermore, even if international recognition or recognition by other sovereign powers is pending, a State could be considered sovereign. For example, Bangladesh was not immediately recognized by Pakistan or the People’s Republic of China was not recognized for a long time by USA but they came to become sovereign states. Nevertheless, going by the example of Palestine and the lack of international recognition for it, we argue that if at least the major powers (say, USA, Britain, China, France, Russia, India, Germany, Japan, etc.) recognize Palestine as a State, it would serve to pressurize Israel to recognize it.