국가가 새롭게 성립한 경우 다른 국가는 상대국을 국가로서 승인하는 것이 통상적인 경우이지만 이 승인의 법적 성질에 대해 전통적 학설은 창설적 효과설과 선언적 효과설로 크게 대립되어 왔다. 지금까지 국가승인은 독립된 영역적 실체를 국제법상의 국가로서 받아들이는 제도로서 기능해 왔다. 하지만 국제법의 발전에 의해 기존이론을 지탱해 온 이론적 토대가 붕괴되기 시작함에 따라 본 논문에서는 기존 이론을 비판적으로 검토하는 한편, 승인이론의 변화와 한계에 대해 고찰했다. 또한 국가승인의 과정에서 국제법이 구현할 수 있는 기능, 특히 인권, 소수자의 보호, 민주주의 및 자결권의 실현 등에 대해 살펴보았다. 이를 통해 국제법이 국가성립의 사실에 직면해 비로소 기능하는 법체계가 아니라, 국가형성의 전 과정에서 보다 적극적인 역할을 수행하는 법규라는 점을 강조하였다.

When a new state is established, other countries usually recognize it as a state. However, the legal issue for the traditional theories of constitutive theory and declaratory theory have been a conflict. The recognition of states has been working as a system to accept a independent territorial entity as a state that obey the international law. However, as the theoretical foundation, that has been holding the existing theories according to the development of international law, is starting to collapse, this thesis critically examines the current theories and review the changes and limites of the recognition theories. Also, the possible functions of the international law on the process of recognition of states such as human rights, protection of minorities, right of self-determination have been reviewed. It is emphasized that the international law is not a law enforcement that plays a role only when it face the state establishment but a law enforcement that takes a active role on the whole process of the state establishment.

When a new state is established, other countries usually recognize it as a state. However, the legal issue for the traditional theories of constitutive theory and declaratory theory have been a conflict. The recognition of states has been working as a system to accept a independent territorial entity as a state that obey the international law. However, as the theoretical foundation, that has been holding the existing theories according to the development of international law, is starting to collapse, this thesis critically examines the current theories and review the changes and limites of the recognition theories. Also, the possible functions of the international law on the process of recognition of states such as human rights, protection of minorities, right of self-determination have been reviewed. It is emphasized that the international law is not a law enforcement that plays a role only when it face the state establishment but a law enforcement that takes a active role on the whole process of the state establishment.

recognition of states, statehood, constitutive theory, declaratory theory, secession, right of self-determination.