Sovereign Equality Among States: The History of an IdeaThe rise of the concept that all nations are equal has transformed international relations in the twentieth century, setting radically new terms for the conduct of war and peace, for economic relations, and for the organization of international society. It is the author's belief that uncritical adherence to this concept is a major stumbling block to the reorganization of the world community. This book is the first study of the historical antecedents and philosophical foundations of the concept of sovereign equality. The older concept of great-power primacy pictures states as abstract entities with a fictitious personality. Increasingly challenged since Alexis de Tocqueville, it has been supplanted by the opposing concept of sovereign equality, which was brought to world attention at the Second hague Peace Conference in 1907. |
Contents
I | 1 |
Conflicting concepts in the Western Hemisphere | 39 |
Woodrow Wilson and the idea of equality | 63 |
Copyright | |
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accepted According action affairs agreed American republics appeared Assembly authority basis become Britain British called Castlereagh Charter collective Committee concept of great-power concept of sovereign concern Conference congress considered continued Council created decisions delegates democratic discussion domestic Europe European existence expressed force foreign Four France German great-power primacy hemisphere human idea independence individual inter-American interest intervention Italy justice Latin American League less limited London majority matter means meeting military mind moral nature officials opposed organization Paris parties peace personality political Powers President principle problem proposed question reality reason recognized regard relations represented resolution respect responsibility Roosevelt rule Russia secretary Senator society sovereign equality Soviet Soviet Union Talleyrand thinking thought tion treaty United Nations violated vote Washington Wilson wrote York