Surpassing the Sovereign State

David A. Rezvani, D.Phil. Oxford University, has taught courses in international and comparative politics at Dartmouth College, Harvard University, MIT, Trinity College, Boston University, and Oxford University. He is a visiting research assistant professor and lecturer at Dartmouth College.

• Preface ; PART I: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ; 1. Introduction ; 2. Partial Independence Advantages and Evolution ; PART II: SELF-DETERMINATION ; 3. Domestic and International Structural Amendment ; 4. Civil Order through Conventional Rules in the British Context: The British Dominions and Northern Ireland ; 5. From Secessionism to Mutual Agreement in the American Context: The Case of Puerto Rico ; 6. Sham Federacy: France's Indochinese Free States, China's Autonomous Regions, South Africa's Bantustans, and America's Indian Territories ; PART III: ECONOMIC STATUS, SECURITY, AND DYNAMICS ; 7. Sovereign State Weakness ; 8. Wealth and Security Advantages of Partial Independence ; 9. Predicting the Dynamics of Partially Independent Territories ; 10. Conclusion ; Appendix 1: Partially Independent Territories Past and Present ; Appendix 2: Negotiations Proposing Regional Autonomy ; Appendix 3: Sham Federacy after 1946 ; Appendix 4: Colonies in the International System 1900-2008 ; References

While his approach is that of a social scientist rather than an international lawyer, his research and conclusions offer useful contributions to the continuing debate among both lawyers and international relations experts over the meaning of statehood, sovereignty, minority rights, and self-determination in the twenty-first century. Moreover, Surpassing the Sovereign State is generally well written and demonstrates broad knowledge of the many situations that it examines.