In international law, recognition is the process of formally acknowledging the legal existence of a state or government. See International Law in the 21st Century: Rules for Global Governance, 47 (2005) by Christopher Joyner. It is within the discretion of any state to decide whether to recognize another as a subject of international law.
See also: Statehood (international law), Self determination (international law), Sovereignty
[Last updated in May of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]