Secession and Succession of States: What relationship?

Abstract

The succession of States has been facing serious difficulties relating to the ambiguity of its legal regime and to the low acceptance of general rules by the international community. The emergence, since the dos of the zoth century, of new States as a consequence of secessionist processes has increased the complexity of State succession. Defining the relationship between secession and State succession is, thus, a challenge for contemporary international law, which affects even the concept of sovereignty and the principle of effectiveness of statehood. This article offers some reflections on this issue.