Western Sahara Dispute Resolution Between the Promises of International Justice and the challenges of International Politics
Mariam Bensaoud
Western Sahara Dispute Resolution
Between the Promises of International Justice and the challenges of International Politics
Mariam Bensaoud
A PhD in International Relations with highest honors from Dokuz Eylül University in Izmir, Türkiye
Abstract
This article overviews the conflict resolution procedure and efficiency of the Western Sahara dispute both through the means of international justice and politics. It offers a critical assessement of the legal means, procedure and epistemic concepts adopted in the conflict resolution by the international court of justice (ICJ) as well as involved international organizations and state actors such as the UN and the US. It highlights the challenges and ambiguities around the Western Sahara conflict resolution between international law and politics. Taking into consideration the historical context of the conflict development, the post-colonial issues attached to state-making in the Global South and MENA (Middle East North Africa) region, the state of contemporary confict in international relations, the destablising effects of insurgency groups on security and peace in the MENA region as well as the geopolitical significance of the western Sahara in terms of regional power rivalry, ressource, maritime borderline and most importantly the fight against terrorism; this article argues that the autonomy plan submitted by Morocco provides realistic potential for conflict resolution. If properly executed, the autonomy plan solves several contentions around the conflict mainly that between self-determination and sovereignty in post-colonial states. It also provides the highest potential for safeguarding stability in the Mediterranean in a time of regional and international turbulence. Insecurity in North Africa around the Western Sahara conflict would enlarge the ring of fire around the European Union and neighbouring states
