The Extension of Westphalian Sovereignty: State Building and the Abolition of Extraterritoriality

Publication Date

9-1-2007

Document Type

Article

Abstract

What explains the abolition of extraterritoriality in world politics? Which factors account for the variation in the timing of the abolition process? I develop a state-building explanation for the abolition of extraterritoriality. I find that traditional explanations of the abolition of extraterritoriality that rely on power and culture do not account for Western states’ decisions to keep or abolish extraterritoriality. I suggest that the state-building practices of non-Western countries, specifically the institutionalization of a state-based legal system, are key to explaining why Western states decided to keep or abolish extraterritoriality. I test my argument against alternative explanations using a comparative case study of the abolition process in Japan and China.

Publication Title

International Studies Quarterly

Volume

51

Issue

3

First Page

649

Last Page

675

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-2478.2007.00468.x

Publisher Policy

pre-print, post-print with 0- to 24-month embargo

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