Keywords
neutralization
Åland Islands
Baltic Sea region
How to Cite
Abstract
Demilitarization and neutralization are among the specific restrictions that apply to the exercise of territorial sovereignty. Although frequently employed in international practice, no generally accepted definitions are available for either of these concepts. The void has given rise to a host of interpretations, which vary particularly widely in the case of demilitarization. The Åland Islands are a classic example of an area that has been both militarized and neutralized. Owing to its strategic location, it has repeatedly become the focal point of political clashes between European powers over the last two centuries. The Islands were seen as a key to pursuing Baltic Sea policies and balancing the strengths of European powers. The conflicts that swept through the region in the 19th century led to the gradual improvement of methods to demilitarize and subsequently neutralize the archipelago. Its status was ultimately settled in 1921 by an international convention and recognized after the end of World War II. The international legal status granted to the archipelago at that time has persisted to this day and continues to serve as a model of effective demilitarization and neutralization.
References
Barros J. (1968), The Åland Islands Question. Its Settlement by the League of Nations, Yale University Press, New Haven.
Bickford A. (2013), Unraveling the Structures of Violence, in: Demilitarization in the Contemporary World, ed. P. N. Stearns, Urbana–Chicago–Springfield.
Bonusiak G. (2009), Statut Wysp Alandzkich, Rzeszów.
Bugajski D. R. (2006a), Demilitaryzacja i neutralizacja przestrzenna w prawie i praktyce międzynarodowej, “Stosunki Międzynarodowe”, issues 3–4, vol. 34.
Bugajski D. R. (2006b), Demilitaryzacja i neutralizacja Wysp Alandzkich, “Przegląd Morski”, 10th edition.
Bugajski D. R. (2010), Demilitaryzacja i neutralizacja – formy i funkcje w prawie międzynarodowym, “Międzynarodowe prawo humanitarne”, vol. 1.
Convention relative a la non-fortification et la neutralisation des iles d’Åland, Åland Culture Foundation, http://www.kultur.aland.fi/kulturstiftelsen/traktater/eng_fr/ram_right-enfr.htm, 27 June 2006.
Dokumienty Wnieszniej Politiki SSSR (1958), vol. II, doc. 165 and 400, Moskwa.
Dokumienty Wnieszniej Politiki SSSR (1958a), vol. IV, doc. 158, Moskwa.
Encyclopedia of Public International Law. 3: Use of force. War and neutrality. Peace Treaties (1982), Amsterdam–New York–Oxford.
Eriksson S. (1995), Åland – a Demilitarized, Neutralized Region, in: The Åland Islands Demilitarized Region, Mariehamn.
Filipek M. J. (2011), Międzynarodowoprawny status archipelagu Wysp Alandzkich. Kwestia demilitaryzacji i neutralizacji Alandów, “Kwartalnik Kolegium Ekonomiczno-Społecznego”, issue 1.
Hannikainen L. (1992), Cultural, Linguistic and Educational Rights in the Åland Islands. An Analysis in International Law, The Advisory Board for International Human Rights Affairs, Helsinki.
Hoyt E. C (1959), The Unanimity Rule in the Revision of Treaties: a re-examination, The Hague.
Jussila O., Hentilä S., Nevakivi J. (2001), Historia polityczna Finlandii 1809–1999, Kraków.
Kersten A. (1973), Historia Szwecji, Wrocław.
Kleemola-Juntunen P. (2014), Passage Rights in International Lain: A Case Study of the Territorial Waters of the Åland Islands, Rovaniemi.
Lachowski Z. (2012), Nuklearne rozbrojenie i nieproliferacja: geneza, stan i perspektywy, “Bezpieczeństwo Narodowe” II, 22nd edition.
Letter from the Soviet Legation to the Finnish Government on the Reinstatement of Treaties after the War (1948), 13 March 1948, Åland Culture Foundation, http://www.kulturstiftelsen.ax/traktater/eng_fr/1948_en.htm, 27.06.2016.
Lindholm G. (1973), Recent Development in the Evolution of the Åland Autonomy, in: Constitutional and Economic Space of the Small Nordic Jurisdictions, ed. L. Lyck, NordREFO, Stockholm.
Minutes of the Fourteenth Meeting of the Council, June 24th, Decision of the Council of the League of
Nations on the Åland Islands Including Sweden’s Protest 1921, September 1921 – League of
Nations Official Journal – 697, Åland Culture Foundation, http://www.kultur.aland.fi/kulturstiftelsen/traktater/eng_fr/ram_right-enfr.htm, 27.06.2006.
Mykkänen P. (2005), Suomi-Finland Presents: The Åland Show, “Helsingin Sanomat”, 22.03.2005.
Napoleon’s Empire. European Politics in Global Perspective (2016), ed. U. Planert, Basingstoke.
Official Journal, League of Nations. Special Supplement (1920), No. 1.
Official Journal, League of Nations. Special Supplement (1920a), No. 3.
Oppenheim L. (1905, 1906), International Lain: A Treatise, vol. 1: Peace and vol. 2: War and Neutrality, London.
Peace address by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at Bomarsund on 13 August 2006, The President of the Republic of Finland, http://www.presidentti.fi/netcomm/news/ShowArticle.asp intNWSAID=54026&intSubArtID=22507&intIGID=9&LAN=FI&contlan=&Thread=&intThreadPosition=0&intShowBack=1&strReturnURL2=, 25.08.2006.
Peace Treaty of Brest Litovsk (1918), The Avalo Project, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/bl34.asp#art6, 27.06.1916.
Protocol between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of the Republic of Finland concerning inventory of the judiciary basis for the bilateral relations between Finland and Russia, Åland Culture Foundation, http://www.kulturstiftelsen.ax/traktater/eng_fr/1992_en.htm, 27.06.2016.
Rotkirch H. (1986), The Demilitarization and Neutralization of the Åland Islands: A Regime in European Interest Withstanding Changing Circumstances, “Journal of Peace Research”, vol. 23, no. 4.
Scarpulla C. (2002), The Constitutional Framework for the Autonomy of Åland. A Survey of the Status of an Autonomous Region in the throes of European Integration, Mariehamn.
Sierpowski S. (2005), Liga Narodów w latach 1919–1926, Wrocław.
Statistical Yearbook of Åland (2016), Statistics and Research Åland, Mariehamn. Demilitarization in the Contemporary World (2013), ed. P. N. Stearns, Urbana–Chicago–Springfield.
Technical Delimitation of the Åland Convention, National Land Survey of Finland, http://www.formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=272970&nodeid=15145&contentlan=2&culture=en-US, 18.04.2015.
Tighter security on movements of soldiers in autonomous Åland Islands, “Helsingin Sanomat”, 26.06.2004.
Treaty between Finland and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republic concerning the Åland Islands (1940), Ålands kulturstiftelse, http://www.kulturstiftelsen.ax/internationella-avtal, 27.06.2016.