Guest Lecture

12.2.2025

A guest lecture was held on the topic “International legal procedure for establishing diplomatic relations between subjects of international relations.”

On February 11, a guest lecture was held by a Ukrainian diplomat, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of History of International Relations and Humanitarian Studies of the M. P. Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine. 

The lecture “International Legal Procedure for Establishing Diplomatic Relations between Subjects of International Relations” was held for students majoring in “International Relations, Public Communications and Regional Studies” (first level of higher education); “Political Science” (first, second and third levels of higher education) on the topic “International Legal Procedure for Establishing Diplomatic Relations between Subjects of International Relations”.

International relations are a set of economic, political, ideological, legal, diplomatic and other relations between states and systems of states, between the main social, economic, political forces, organizations and public movements operating on the world stage. The main subjects of international relations are peoples, states, intergovernmental associations, regional and global political, economic and other governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions. Entering into relations with different countries and peoples, each subject of international law pursues the main goal – to create favorable conditions for its development. Its achievement depends on the presence of economic factors, armed forces, the potential of allies and rivals, the international situation and other factors.

International recognition is a diplomatic act, which is accompanied by appropriate legal consequences. Only in this sense can it be considered an international legal institution. The reasons for this act are almost always political in nature. They are dictated in each individual case by state interests and testify not only to the very fact of the existence or appearance on the international arena of the state that needs to be recognized, but also, mainly, the readiness of the state to establish certain official relations with the recipient of recognition. This whole process, therefore, is not reduced to mere formal recognition, is not an ordinary protocol measure for both the recognizing and the recognized state. The act of recognition affects the essence of the foreign policy of a particular state, corresponds to its highest national interests. This last point should be emphasized in particular.

Borys Ivanovych noted that recognition is a reflection of the real need for a particular state to establish diplomatic relations with another specific state, to maintain ties with it on an official basis, since recognition is not an automatic obligation for the states of the world, which invariably extends to newly formed countries. There are no specific norms in international law that would oblige states in all cases to recognize newly formed subjects of international law with all the consequences that accompany this process.

Diplomatic relations in the modern world are the cornerstone of the entire system of interstate relations. They are the ones that make it possible to fully realize the international legal personality of a state. Of course, de jure non-recognition and the associated lack of normal diplomatic relations in no way diminish the overall weight of a state in the international arena, since each state is a subject of international law primarily by virtue of its inherent sovereignty. At the same time, when studying the processes of realizing international legal personality, one cannot completely ignore the role of recognition and the presence (or absence) of normal diplomatic relations.

Diplomatic relations are official relations that are voluntarily established by two states through friendly contacts of any nature between their governments in political, economic, cultural and other spheres of activity and give the right to exchange diplomatic representatives.

States represent society as a whole on the international arena, and not individual social groups or political organizations. Such important issues as sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity are resolved only by the state through its structures. It is the only nationwide institution that has the legitimate authority to implement policy in the international arena: to conclude bilateral and multilateral agreements on cooperation in certain areas, to declare war, etc. The combined foreign policy activities of sovereign states determine all world politics.

World politics is the combined activity of all subjects of international law regarding the power to ensure their interests in solving problems that arise in the field of international relations. The main priority of world politics is to solve global problems of humanity and preserve human civilization.

Borys Ivanovych shared his invaluable practical experience by representing the diplomatic mission of Ukraine in Cyprus.

We are infinitely grateful to the esteemed Borys Ivanovych for the relevant, interesting, and meaningful lecture, which was not just informative, but also fascinating. The presented lecture material aroused interest and lively discussion among the students.

According to the Department of Political Science and International Relations