Territorial Disputes in the Americas : International Law and Politics

Territorial disputes are intricate, shaped by historical, legal, geopolitical, social, cultural and other factors. This book uses a multidimensional approach to assess real case scenarios across the Americas, individually and collectively. The work evaluates a selected sample of these disputes, tracing origins to colonial histories, unclear border demarcations or uncharted lands, and challenges enforcing legal boundaries. It then explores critical thematic areas, illustrated with compelling examples—disputes entangled with non-American agents like European nations; colonialism, neo-colonial interference and pervasive colonial mindsets; ongoing, regional differences between neighboring states; and the intricate, sometimes conflicting roles of indigenous communities and implanted populations asserting self-determination, often diverging from states’ interests. The work reveals sovereignty and disputes intertwine, encompassing plural agents, roles, contexts, realms and modes of existence beyond traditional views. Cases like the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Mexico-US border, Amazon region and Antarctica highlight how regional organizations and alliances could enhance peacebuilding, strengthen American states against external powers and challenge traditional unidimensional scholarly approaches with a nuanced, comprehensive perspective. The book will appeal to researchers, academics and policymakers in the areas of Public International Law, Political Science and International Relations, Legal Philosophy, Political Philosophy and Jurisprudence.