The Politics of Non- Recognition in International Law: The Palestine Experience

Abstract

This study seeks to find out the reasons behind the non-recognition of Palestine in the international community; and to examine the place of international law and international politics in terms of recognition of new states. This work adopted the use of secondary sources and qualitative data analysis to discuss and evaluate the data collected. The world system theory was adopted to ascertain the level of interdependence theoretically, with a discovery that politics at the level of the Security Council of the United Nations is a major setback to the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. Economic strength of an entity is an added advantage in terms of recognition. Also, threat to international peace and security can lead to denial of a group of people's right to statehood in the international community. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that Palestine should initiate and progressively work out a dialogue approach with her immediate neighbor Israel in other to earn the support of some powerful states in international community. Also, there should be legal framework and corresponding consequences guiding recognition of states in the international community without any trace of politics, and that, Palestine’s attainment of the status of non-observer membership at the UN should not be seen as the end itself, but a means to an end. Therefore, Palestine should strive more in achieving the desired status of sovereign state in the international community.