Recognition - shounin (English spelling)

Japanese: 承認 - しょうにん（英語表記）recognition

Generally, it means to show positive intention regarding the actions of others. However, in law, it is used as follows:

Under international law

Recognition can take various forms, but the most common are state recognition, government recognition, and recognition by a belligerent group.

[1] Recognition of a State When a new state is established (by merger, annexation, separation, etc.), existing states recognize the new state's national identity, thereby allowing it to join international organizations and recognize it as a subject of international law. This is called state recognition. (a) State recognition is carried out under certain conditions. First, an independent government must have established effective power over a certain territory and people, and second, the new state must have the will and ability to comply with international law. If recognition is given under circumstances where the conditions are not met, it is considered premature recognition and is invalid in theory, regardless of whether it is in practice, and if the new state separates from its home country, it is considered interference with the home country and is considered illegal. (b) There are two methods: explicit recognition and implicit recognition. The former is when the intention to recognize is made clear through notifications, declarations, treaties, etc., and the latter is when the intention to recognize is indirectly inferred through the conclusion of important bilateral treaties such as alliance treaties, the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, etc. Furthermore, there is a distinction between de jure recognition and de facto recognition. While the former is given on the premise that certain conditions are met, the latter is a provisional recognition given when there is doubt as to whether the conditions are met (unlike the former, it can be revoked), and may only result in a limited practical relationship. (c) As for the effect, a state is considered to enjoy certain important rights and obligations at the stage of de facto establishment, but recognition does not result in a full relationship under general international law between the state and the recognizing state. However, since recognition is given on an individual basis, its effect only concerns the relationship between the recognizing state and the recognized state, and in that sense it is relative.

[2] Government Recognition When a government is illegally replaced in a country by revolution or coup d'état, the act of granting the new government the right to represent the country in place of the old government is called government recognition. Even if a government is illegally changed, the territory and people still form the basis of the new government, so the state maintains its identity, according to traditional international law. (a) The first requirement is that the new government has established effective control over the territory and people in general, and secondly, that the new government has the will and ability to represent the state, in particular by inheriting the treaty rights and obligations of the old government. (b) The method is the same as in the case of state recognition. (c) The effect is that the recognized government is recognized as officially qualified to represent the state in relation to the recognizing country. In addition, a relationship under general international law is established between the recognized government and the former government, and treaties concluded by the former government that were suspended due to a revolution or coup d'état are also restored to effect upon recognition.

[3] Recognition of a belligerent group When a rebel group occupies a certain area with the purpose of separating from a country or overthrowing the government of a country and the civil war has expanded to the point where the rebel group has established a de facto local government, a third country or a legitimate government recognizes the rebel group as a certain status of an international law subject. In such cases, a third country often recognizes a belligerent group in order to protect the rights and interests of its own citizens, and a legitimate government often recognizes a belligerent group in order to prevent the civil war from becoming cruel. (a) The requirements are that the rebel group effectively occupies a certain area and establishes a local government, and that the rebel group has the will and ability to comply with the laws of war. When a third country recognizes a belligerent group, it is not simply sympathy or encouragement, but that the recognition is necessary for the protection of the country's interests. (b) The method is sometimes used explicitly, but often the third country declares neutrality and the legitimate government implicitly applies the laws of warfare. (c) The effect is that when a third country recognizes a belligerent group, it is obligated to remain neutral toward both the legitimate government and the belligerent group. On the other hand, belligerent parties have a duty to protect the interests of third countries. When a legitimate government acts in a war, the laws of war apply between the belligerent parties and the legitimate government, and it is exempt from the responsibility of protecting the interests of third countries.

[Hisashi Uchida]

Public law

The words approval or consent are used to refer to consent given by another competent agency to a national or local government agency to carry out a certain action.

[1] When the Emperor performs any act in matters of state, he must receive the advice and approval of the Cabinet (Article 7 of the Constitution); without this, the Emperor cannot perform any act. Diet approval of a treaty (Article 73, paragraph 3 of the Constitution) is a prerequisite for the treaty to be established.

[2] The Prime Minister's declaration of a state of emergency requires approval from the Diet (Article 74 of the Police Law).

[Yasuyuki Takahashi and Masamitsu Nozawa]

Private law

Acknowledgement of certain facts. In many cases, this is simply a "notice of concept," such as the acknowledgement of a debt as a ground for interrupting the prescription (Civil Code Article 147, Paragraph 3 and Article 156) or the acknowledgement of a legitimate child (Civil Code Article 776). In other words, by acknowledging certain facts, the law gives certain effects (interruption of the prescription, loss of the right to deny legitimacy, etc.).

However, acceptance of inheritance (Articles 915 and following of the same Act) is a legal act that involves a statement to the family court.

[Yasuyuki Takahashi and Masamitsu Nozawa]

"The Theory of Recognition in International Law" by Shigejiro Tabata (included in "Legal Studies System, Part 2, Legal Theory, Vol. 13", 1955, Nippon Hyoronsha)" "Recognition of the State/Government and Civil War" by Yoshio Hirose (2005, Shinzansha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

一般的には他人の行為に対して肯定的意志を表示すること。しかし、法律的には次のように使われている。

国際法上

承認には種々の態様があるが、代表的なのは国家承認、政府承認および交戦団体の承認である。

〔1〕国家承認　新国家が成立（合併、併合、分離独立等により）した場合、既存の個々の国家が新国家の国家性を認定し、もって新国家を国際団体に加入させ、国際法の主体として認める行為を国家承認という。(a)国家承認は一定の要件の下に行われる。第一に独立の政府が一定の領土および人民に対し実効的権力を確立していること、第二に国際法を遵守する意思と能力があることである。要件が充足されない状況下で承認を行えば、尚早の承認となり、実際はともかく理論的には無効というべく、本国より分離独立する場合には本国に対する干渉となり、違法とされている。(b)方式には、まず明示的承認と黙示的承認の別がある。前者は通告、宣言、条約等により承認の意思を明示することであり、後者は同盟条約など重要な二国間条約の締結、正式の外交関係の樹立等によって承認の意思が間接に推定されることである。さらに、法律上の承認と事実上の承認の別がある。前者は要件の充足を前提として行われるのに対し、後者は要件の充足に疑念がもたれる際に行われる暫定的承認であって（前者と異なり、撤回可能）、限定的実務関係をもたらすにすぎないことがある。(c)効果は、国家は事実上成立した段階で一定の重要な権利義務を享有すると考えられるが、承認によって承認国との間に一般国際法上の関係が全面的に形成される。しかし、承認が個別的に行われる結果、その効果は承認国と被承認国間のみにかかわり、その意味で相対的である。

〔2〕政府承認　一国内で政府が革命やクーデターにより非合法的に交替する場合に、新政府に旧政府にかわって当該国を代表する資格を認める行為を政府承認という。政府が非合法的に変革しても、領土および人民は依然新政府の基礎をなすので、国家としては同一性を保つというのが伝統的国際法の立場である。(a)要件は、第一に新政府が領域一般および住民に対し実効的支配を確立していること、第二に新政府が国家を代表する意思と能力があること、とくに旧政府の条約上の権利義務を継承することである。(b)方式は国家承認の場合と変わらない。(c)効果は、被承認政府が承認国との関係で国家を正式に代表する資格を認められることである。また、被承認政府との間に一般国際法上の関係がもたらされ、革命またはクーデターによって適用停止状態に置かれた旧政府締結条約も承認に伴い効力を復活する。

〔3〕交戦団体の承認　反乱団体が一国から分離しまたは一国の政府を転覆する目的をもって一定の地域を占拠し、地方的事実上の政府を樹立するまでに内乱が拡大した段階で、第三国または正統政府が当該反乱団体に一定の国際法主体としての地位を認める行為。その場合、第三国は自国民の権益保護のために、正統政府は内乱の残虐化防止のために交戦団体の承認を行うことが多い。(a)要件は、反乱団体が一定地域を実効的に占拠し、地方的政府を樹立していること、反乱団体が戦争法規を遵守する意思と能力があること。第三国が行う場合には、単なる同情や激励でなく承認が自国の権益保護など必要な関係にあることである。(b)方式は明示的にも行われるが、第三国は中立宣言により、正統政府は交戦法規の適用により黙示的に行うことが少なくない。(c)効果は、第三国が行う場合には正統政府および交戦団体双方に対し中立義務を負う。他方で、交戦団体は第三国の権益保護義務を負う。正統政府が行う場合には、交戦団体との間に交戦法規が適用され、正統政府は第三国の権益保護の責任から免れる。

［内田久司］