CONFLICT IN THE CRIMEA - AN EXAMINATION OF ETHNIC-CONFLICT UNDER THE CONTEMPORARY MODEL OF SOVEREIGNTY

Ethnic communities have increasingly found themselves in isolated encl aves separated from the countries with which they identify themselves particularly in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Using the example of the Russian population in the Crimea, this Note identi fies specific characteristics and interests peculiar to ethnic enclave s. The author argues that the model of sovereignty currently recognize d by international law has been unable to provide a framework that ade quately copes with the problems confronting such ethnic enclaves and t hat the principles for approaching issues of ethnic tension have not b een adequately developed in international law. The author concludes th at the interests of ethnic enclaves must be encompassed by a model of sovereignty acceptable to the international community in order to addr ess problems of ethnic tension in a consistent and principled manner. Several alternatives to the current model of sovereignty are also brie fly examined.