Disenchantment of Sovereignty as a Way to Enhance International law’s ‎Involvement in National Elections

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran‎

2 Department of Public International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, ‎Iran

10.22059/jcl.2023.353328.634460

Abstract

In this article, it is argued that the teachings of the New Haven School (NHS) of International law, provide the best theoretical framework for the promotion of international electoral norms. The article argues that there is no inexplicable mystery in component elements of the state and sovereignty. It also maintains that the idea of the inconsistency of national sovereignty with the promotion of international electoral norms is based upon a distorted conception of sovereignty. As a legal concept, national sovereignty has long been invoked by states to obstruct the promotion of international norms and standards on free and fair elections. Demystification of the elements of the state reveals that international scholars may convincingly overcome the theoretical challenges of sovereigntists through the deconstruction of the concepts of state and sovereignty. For the New Haven School, all legal concepts and arrangements (including Sovereignty) are designed to achieve human dignity. For all practical purposes, if international law scholars want to understand a different view on the relations between sovereignty and people, they must promote a deeper understanding of New Haven’s epistemological and methodological apparatus. Taking a contextual-functional approach to sovereignty, the New Haven School of international law subordinates sovereignty to the recognized international standards of humanity.

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References

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Comparative Law Review
Volume 14, Issue 2
Autumn $ Winter 2023-2024
January 2024
Pages 1089-1112

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