recognition

Recognition in international law is the formal acceptance of certain facts, such as statehood or sovereignty, by other states. While states are the primary subjects of international law, their recognition by other nations is a political process, with each country deciding independently whether to acknowledge a new entity as a state.1

There are two main theories of recognition: the "declaratory" theory, where recognition acknowledges an existing factual situation, and the "constitutive" theory, where recognition itself creates the state. States may impose conditions for recognition, such as respecting minority rights or territorial integrity. Premature recognition, especially in cases of secession, can be a violation of international law. The Stimson Doctrine, for example, established a principle of non-recognition for situations created by aggression. Recognition of governments is distinct from state recognition and focuses on determining the legitimate representative of a state.12