Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS Negotiations

This article offers a novel perspective on the interplay between power relations among states and maritime justice by exploring various manifestations of power during negotiations for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Here, UNCLOS is perceived as an agent of maritime just...

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Main Author: Stephanie Oserwa Schandorf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cogitatio 2024-11-01
Series:Ocean and Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cogitatiopress.com/oceanandsociety/article/view/8791
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author Stephanie Oserwa Schandorf
author_facet Stephanie Oserwa Schandorf
author_sort Stephanie Oserwa Schandorf
collection DOAJ
description This article offers a novel perspective on the interplay between power relations among states and maritime justice by exploring various manifestations of power during negotiations for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Here, UNCLOS is perceived as an agent of maritime justice insofar as the Convention’s delimitation of maritime zones lays the foundation for establishing the rights and obligations of states in addressing maritime crime and insecurity. It employs Barnett and Duvall’s (2005) taxonomy of power to analyse how key contentions during UNCLOS negotiations were reflective of various forms of power. The discussion reveals that compulsory, institutional, structural, and productive power significantly influenced UNCLOS provisions, often favouring developed states but occasionally benefiting developing nations through collective action. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how power relations among states in the global order can shape the formation of international legal instruments and consequently influence their role as agents of justice.
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spelling doaj-art-406b4523eb0b4bf5a7b47bdd5cf3f53c2025-08-20T03:26:00ZengCogitatioOcean and Society2976-09252024-11-011010.17645/oas.87913860Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS NegotiationsStephanie Oserwa Schandorf0Faculty of Business, Law and Criminology, Liverpool Hope University, UKThis article offers a novel perspective on the interplay between power relations among states and maritime justice by exploring various manifestations of power during negotiations for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Here, UNCLOS is perceived as an agent of maritime justice insofar as the Convention’s delimitation of maritime zones lays the foundation for establishing the rights and obligations of states in addressing maritime crime and insecurity. It employs Barnett and Duvall’s (2005) taxonomy of power to analyse how key contentions during UNCLOS negotiations were reflective of various forms of power. The discussion reveals that compulsory, institutional, structural, and productive power significantly influenced UNCLOS provisions, often favouring developed states but occasionally benefiting developing nations through collective action. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how power relations among states in the global order can shape the formation of international legal instruments and consequently influence their role as agents of justice.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/oceanandsociety/article/view/8791maritime legal frameworkmaritime justicepower relationsunclos
spellingShingle Stephanie Oserwa Schandorf
Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS Negotiations
Ocean and Society
maritime legal framework
maritime justice
power relations
unclos
title Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS Negotiations
title_full Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS Negotiations
title_fullStr Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS Negotiations
title_full_unstemmed Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS Negotiations
title_short Power Relations and Maritime Justice: An Exploration of UNCLOS Negotiations
title_sort power relations and maritime justice an exploration of unclos negotiations
topic maritime legal framework
maritime justice
power relations
unclos
url https://www.cogitatiopress.com/oceanandsociety/article/view/8791
work_keys_str_mv AT stephanieoserwaschandorf powerrelationsandmaritimejusticeanexplorationofunclosnegotiations