Withdrawal of Recognition

Abstract

Abstract Chapter 12 provides a detailed overview of theory and practice on the withdrawal of recognition or ‘derecognition’. Thus far, scholarship has for the most part only marginally addressed this matter, and generally only to reject it as legally impossible. However, this chapter takes note of an increased tendency by States to engage in derecognition in recent years and challenges the mainstream view that the act will always be deprived of legal value. It therefore introduces the concept of ‘quasi-derecognition’ as a type of act admitting that recognition was initially unlawful, but furthermore argues that actual derecognition may sometimes be possible in situations of contested statehood. These findings are based on an analysis of almost twenty notes verbales claiming to withdraw recognition of Kosovo since 2016.