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The Role of Preventive Diplomacy in Ethnic Conflicts through the Lens of International Law

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

1 Prof., Department of International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

2 Ph. D. in Public International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

Abstract

International law’s capability to prevent ethnic conflicts (ECs) is one of touchstones for its effectiveness. How to identify and use preventive diplomacy (PD) as one of the international law capacities is the question which has been studied in this contribution. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and through a desk research, the authors of the present paper strive to explore the role of preventive diplomacy (PD) in preventing ECs. According to the findings of the paper, identification of situations susceptible to outbreak of ECs and early warning for taking an appropriate measure is of tremendous significance in preventing ECs. Furthermore, following PD in two levels of short-term or operational and long-term or structural can contribute to the positive and effective role that international law can play in this regard. Operational PD is intended to prevent an ethnic tension or crisis from becoming an ethnic armed conflict and its examples include sending diplomatic missions, preventive deployment of peace-keeping forces and mediation made by distinguished international individuals. On the other side, structural PD aims at the root causes of conflicts and tries to reduce or eliminate the causes for the outbreak of ECs through processes such as promotion and fortification of democracy, strengthening the civil society and surveillance of human and minority rights violation. 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. English

    1. A) Books
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    6. Shahabuddin, M. (2016). Ethnicity and International Law: Histories, Politics and Practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

     

    1. B) Article
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    1. C) Dissertation, Resolution and Reports
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     References In Persian:

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    1. B) Articles
    2. Ahmadiyan, Gh. and Heydari, N. (2014). UN Challenges in Democratization of Ethnoreligious Societies (Case Studies of Post-Cold War in Africa). International Organizations, 1(4), 89-140 (In Persian).
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    1. C) Dissertations and Theses
    2. Ahmadi Dermni, M. (2014). A Comparative Study of the US Foreign Policy towards the Iranian Ethnic Groups (Emphasizing the Kurds, Baluch, Azeri and Arab Ethnic Groups). MA Thesis in Political Science, Supervised by: Mojtaba Maghsoudi, Tehran: Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch (In Persian).
    3. Heydari, N. (2013). Democratic Governance and Ethnoreligious Conflicts (Case Study: Africa after the Cold War). MA Thesis in Political Science, Supervised by: Ghodrat Ahmadiyan, Kermanshah: Razi University, Faculty of Social Science (In Persian).
    4. Khademiyan, A. (2012). Democratic Peace and Security Challenges to the Middle East. MA Thesis in Political Science, Supervised by: Ghodrat Ahmadiyan, Kermanshah: Razi University, Faculty of Social Science (In Persian).
    5. Khalandi, Shilan-Abadi, D. (2019). Examining the International Aspects of Ethnic Conflicts in the Middle East: Emphasizing the Kurds. MA Thesis in International Relations, Supervised by: Hadi Ajili, Tehran: Allameh Tabatabaie University (In Persian).
    6. Rastgou, M. Z. (2018). The Impact of Ethnoreligious Conflicts in Iraq on the National Security of Islamic Republic of Iran. Ph. D. Dissertation in International Relations, Supervised by: Ali Akbar AsadI, Tehran: Tarbiat Modarres University (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 September 2026
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History
  • Receive Date: 05 February 2024
  • Revise Date: 07 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 15 September 2024
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