This contribution examines the international legal relevance of the recent Crimean referendum, starting from the premise that, as a matter of international customary law, and as a matter of legal consistency and fairness, a free territorial referendum is emerging as a procedural conditio sine...

The article argues that the principle of sovereignty is being ousted from its position as a Letztbegründung (first principle) of international law. This trend is welcome. Sovereignty must and can be justified. The normative value of sovereignty is derived from and geared towards humanity that...