Načelo suverene jednakosti država u prošlosti, sadašnjosti i budućnosti
THE PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGN EQUALITY OF STATES. ITS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Summary/Abstract: The topic of the present discussion is a correlation between the respect of sovereign equality of all States, the balance of power in the World Community and the capability of that Community for some joint enforcement actions when they prove to be necessary. All attempts throughout the history of radical elimination of the principle of sovereign equality of States by imposing hegemony by one power, or by several powers, finally failed. That happened with the rule of Napoleon I over Continental Europe prior to 1815, or with attempts to impose “New Order” by the Axis Powers during World War II. At the same time also failed efforts to replace the balance of power by some integrated collective security systems. Within the League of Nations and the United Nations Organization that balance of power continued to operate between their leading member States. There is, however, a paradox in the fact that the respect of the principle of sovereign equality of all States in presence of a balance of power considerably diminishes the probability of joint enforcement actions when they prove necessary. Today only the United States of America has military potential and political will to face with some large scale commissions of international crimes, as well as with acts of international terrorism. At the same time the lack of the balance of powers in the present World Community results in some distorted attitudes and practices by this unique superpower in the World that are not always in perfect harmony with basic values of our civilization.

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