Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states. Conversely it states that border changes imposed by force are acts of aggression. Territorial integrity and self-determination are polar concepts.

In recent years there has been tension between this principle and the concept of humanitarian intervention. Territorial integrity and humanitarian intervention collided in the Kosovo War.

History of territorial integrity

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Although first mentioned with the appearance of Westphalian sovereignty in 1648, territorial integrity was a concept mostly honored in breach until the end of World War II. With the formation of the United Nations (UN) and, later, such organizations as the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now OSCE), territorial integrity became a part of international resolutions. The Helsinki Final Act dealt with both inviolability of frontiers and territorial integrity of States, among other things.

Territorial integrity in a changing world

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The recent (post-WWII) strict application of territorial integrity has given rise to a number of problems^* and, when faced with reality "on the ground", can be seen as too artificial of a construct.

Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, speaking to the International Institute for Strategic Studies on 25 January 2001, argued for a more flexible approach to territorial integrity, in line with historical norms, saying: Let us accept the fact that states have lifecycles similar to those of human beings who created them. Hardly any Member State of the United Nations has existed within its present borders for longer than five generations. The attempt to freeze human evolution has in the past been a futile undertaking and has probably brought about more violence than if such a process had been controlled peacefully. Restrictions on self-determination threaten not only democracy itself but the state which seeks its legitimation in democracy.^*

At the 2005 World Summit, the world's nations agreed on a "Responsibility to Protect" ^* giving a right of humanitarian intervention. These developments point to a more flexible application of the concept of territorial integrity, easing the strict adherence and taking into account the de facto status of the territory and other factors present on a case by case basis.

International law

Intégrité territoriale