Legal Definitions - Recognition (international law)

In international law, recognition refers to the formal acknowledgement of the legal existence of a state or government. This means that other countries or international organizations accept that the state or government has the right to exist and to conduct its own affairs.

For example, when South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in 2011, many countries recognized it as a new independent state. This meant that they established diplomatic relations with South Sudan and treated it as a separate entity from Sudan.

Recognition can also be withheld or withdrawn. For instance, some countries do not recognize Taiwan as a separate state because they consider it to be part of China. Similarly, some countries have withdrawn recognition of a government if they believe it has lost legitimacy or is no longer in control of the territory it claims.

Overall, recognition is an important aspect of international law because it helps to establish the legitimacy and sovereignty of states and governments.