Preview: Chapter 1 of Territorial Disputes in the Americas
Territorial Disputes in the Americas, set for release on August 20, 2025, offers a groundbreaking perspective on conflicts shaping our continent. Chapter 1, the introduction, lays the foundation for this exploration, challenging traditional approaches to understanding territorial disputes. Below is a preview of its key ideas, kicking off a 10-week series where I’ll dive into each chapter. Join me to rethink sovereignty and conflict resolution.
Why Territorial Disputes Matter
Territorial disputes, from the Falkland/Malvinas Islands to the Mexico–United States border, are as relevant today as global crises like Russia-Ukraine. Yet, traditional scholarship in legal and political sciences often takes a unidimensional approach, focusing on law or politics while sidelining emotions, nationalism, or indigenous perspectives. Chapter 1 argues for a multidimensional approach that captures the full complexity of disputes, shedding light on why leaders like Obama, Trump, Maduro, or Milei leverage these conflicts and what’s at stake in places like Greenland, the Amazon, or Antarctica.
Defining Key Concepts
The chapter defines sovereignty as dynamic and multifaceted—encompassing factual (de facto), normative (de jure), and axiological (value-based) dimensions. Territorial disputes are not just state conflicts over land or water but involve diverse agents like communities and individuals. For example, the San Andrés dispute reflects Colombia’s strategic interests and the Raizal community’s cultural identity. This broader view explains motivations behind political actions and persistent tensions.
Introducing Pluralism of Pluralisms and Multidimensionality
Chapter 1 unveils the pluralism of pluralisms, recognizing disputes as multi-subjective (involving states, communities, individuals), multi-contextual (local, regional, international), and multi-faceted (rational, empirical, axiological). This framework moves beyond unidimensional analyses, integrating emotional and cultural factors. For instance, the Falklands/Malvinas dispute intertwines Argentina’s national pride with Britain’s geopolitical stance, demanding a holistic approach.
Methodology and Structure
Building on my prior work (Núñez 2017, 2020, 2023), the book employs a modified realist model and case studies to analyze disputes like Guatemala-Belize or Antarctica’s claims. Chapter 1 outlines the book’s structure: Part 1 establishes conceptual tools, Part 2 examines Americas-specific cases (e.g., indigenous rights, neo-colonial influences), and Part 3 applies the framework to Antarctica and future implications. This approach ensures robust, empirically grounded insights.
A Call for a New Perspective
Chapter 1 critiques the fragmentation in current scholarship, which limits understanding of disputes’ complexity. By embracing a multidimensional lens, the book aims to foster better conflict resolution strategies, from regional peacebuilding (e.g., the 1998 Brasilia Peace Agreement) to addressing indigenous claims in the Amazon. It’s a call to rethink how we approach crises globally.
Get a Sneak Peek
Dive deeper into these ideas through my blog posts at https://drjorge.world , including “Territorial Disputes in the Americas: A Brief Multidimensional View” and “Antarctica.” Follow my weekly chapter reveals starting next week and join the conversation! Share your thoughts below or on X using #TerritorialDisputes. Pre-order details below.
NOTE:
New posts every Thursday.
NEXT POST:
Preview Chapter 2: Sovereignty and Territorial Disputes– Explores sovereignty (factual, normative, axiological), dispute claims, and regional peacebuilding mechanisms.
The Borders We Share: A New Way to Fix a Broken World
Section 4: Forests and Lands
Post 19: Sherwood’s Split, Congo’s Core: Green Justice
In a Nutshell
Imagine Robin Hood standing beneath Sherwood’s ancient oaks, his keen eyes scanning a forest divided by feuding farmers, hunters, and poachers—then shift your gaze to the Congo Basin, where the dense jungles of the DRC and Rwanda pulse with the clash of tribal farmers, traditional hunters, and militias vying for timber and coltan. These are battles over green: land that sustains life, legacies etched in bark and blood, and a hope that flickers amid the strife. In The Borders We Share, I’m planting a seed of possibility: no single victor is required. Split the roots equitably, nurture the soil with justice, and the forest can thrive for all. Today, as the sun rises on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, we step into Sherwood’s shadowed glades and the Congo’s verdant depths—legend and reality intertwined—to explore whether sharing can heal what conquest and conflict have scarred. Join me on this journey, where every tree tells a tale of resilience.
The Adventure Takes Root
The tales of Sherwood captivated me as a child, not merely for Robin Hood’s daring escapes or his band’s outlaw swagger, but for the raw, visceral tug-of-war over who could claim the wild heart of those woods. The whistle of arrows cutting through the mist, the clash of ideals between the free and the feudal, lingered in my mind, whispering questions about justice in lands torn by division. Those childhood stories became the threads I’ve woven into The Borders We Share, a series that transforms border disputes into visions of shared futures. Two weeks ago, we navigated the turbulent tides of Blefuscu’s boats and Vietnam’s Paracel Puzzle (Post 18), where maritime claims tested the waters of cooperation. Now, we venture deeper into the terrestrial realm, stepping into Sherwood’s emerald embrace and the Congo Basin’s sprawling canopy—forests where power, people, and nature lock horns, yet where a new path of peace might take root. Grab your bow or a staff; the trail ahead is alive with possibility, teeming with the songs of birds and the rustle of leaves that hide both conflict and hope.
First, let’s immerse ourselves in Sherwood—a legend borrowed from the public domain, reshaped with fresh eyes. Picture a medieval England where gnarled oaks twist toward a sky veiled in morning mist, their branches cradling the echoes of deer darting through the undergrowth. Here, Robin Hood leads his band, a brotherhood of outcasts who hunt to survive, staking the forest as their refuge against a crushing feudal order. The Sheriff of Nottingham, cloaked in the authority of royal writ, declares the woods the king’s domain—ripe for taxation, fenced for control, and a stage to hang poachers who defy his rule. Amid this tension, local voices rise: farmer Liana tends cassava fields, her hands calloused from tilling soil that feeds her village; hunter Kofi tracks game with a bow strung from tradition, his snares a lifeline for his kin; and poacher Zane lurks in the shadows, his axe hungry for timber to trade for coin. The Greenveil River, a shimmering ribbon, splits the land, its banks a battleground where Liana’s crops are trampled by Kofi’s cattle, Kofi’s snares are tangled in timber lines, and Zane’s greed strips the forest bare. Clashes erupt—fields lie ruined, game scatters, trees fall—costing Sherwood $10 million annually (Sherwood Ledger) and displacing 5,000 souls to the forest’s ragged edges. Can Robin, with his vision of equity, unite these factions without the woods going up in flames?
Now, let’s cross continents to the Congo Basin—a vast, steamy expanse stretching across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, a 500-million-acre tapestry of life. Its borders bear the scars of colonial hands, drawn by Belgium and Germany with little regard for the tribal lands they severed. After independence, the 1994 Rwandan genocide sent refugees flooding into DRC’s forests, igniting resource wars over timber, coltan, and gold—resources valued at $200 million yearly (World Bank). The 2017 Lusaka Accord attempted to zone Virunga’s 8,000 square kilometers, a fragile peace brokered to halt decades of militia raids, but poaching and conflict persist, displacing 50,000 Congolese (UNHCR). Here, Banyarwanda farmers cultivate cassava and maize, their fields a bulwark against hunger; Batwa hunters track game with ancestral skill, their bows echoing through the canopy; and armed groups, driven by profit, strip the land, their actions a mirror to Zane’s poaching. This is Sherwood’s feud scaled to a global stage, where chainsaws replace axes, and the planetary heartbeat falters under the weight of exploitation.
The Thicket of It All
These conflicts transcend mere land grabs—they are intricate tapestries woven from the threads of human need, historical burdens, and the relentless pull of power. My book Territorial Disputes (2020, Chapter 9) reframes these as multilayered struggles, not simple “border spats.” Consider the agents: in Sherwood, Liana’s farmers seek sustenance, Kofi’s hunters chase tradition, and Zane’s poachers pursue profit; in the Congo, Banyarwanda farmers toil, Batwa hunters roam, and militias exploit. The contexts are rich with colonial ghosts—Belgium’s 1885 Congo Free State and Germany’s Rwanda carved borders that ignored tribal boundaries, treating lands as vacant (terra nullius) or ripe for plunder. Modern greed adds fuel: Sherwood’s Sheriff craves order to bolster his standing with the crown, while DRC’s leaders and Rwanda’s government vie for prestige amid resource wealth. The realms—survival, law, ecology—intertwine as Liana’s fields feed villages, Kofi’s game sustains tribes, and Zane’s timber funds his crew, mirroring the Congo’s delicate balance of life and exploitation.
My Sovereignty Conflicts (2017, Chapter 7) uncovers the puppeteers. In Sherwood, the Sheriff’s king flexes authority to appease Norman nobles pressing from afar, their influence a shadow over local rule. In the Congo, DRC’s late president Laurent-Désiré Kabila faced Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, each leveraging forest control for political leverage, while UN peacekeepers ($1 billion, UNDOF) and multinational firms stir the pot, chasing coltan for global tech. The colonial past cuts deeper still. Belgium and Germany saw Congolese and Rwandan tribes as invisible or inferior, their lands fair game under terra nullius or “civilized” might. Post-1994, Rwanda’s exodus into DRC fueled militia dominance, echoing Sherwood’s feudal tensions. International law offers a nod to Indigenous rights—the UN’s 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the 2016 American Declaration—but remains anchored in colonial relics like uti possidetis, sidelining tribal “effective occupation” per the International Court of Justice. Brazil’s constitutional nod to Indigenous land finds a parallel in DRC’s legal framework, yet the Congo churns with states, tribes, NGOs, and corporations, all tugging a resource-rich web taut with tension.
Here’s my approach, honed in 2017: egalitarian shared sovereignty. Picture Robin, Liana, Kofi, and Zane setting aside rank to ask, “What’s just?” They’d divide the forest—farming rights for Liana to feed her kin, hunting grounds for Kofi to honor his heritage, timber trade for Zane to sustain his crew, with the strong uplifting the weak. Four principles guide this: all voices speak as equals, roles match skills (farmers till, hunters track), rewards reflect effort (timber for choppers), and the powerful aid the vulnerable (Zane funds reforestation, Liana shares crops). In the Congo, Banyarwanda could farm the north, Batwa hunt the south, rangers patrol the Commons, with profits funding schools and clinics. My Cosmopolitanism (2023, Chapter 6) adds a multidimensional layer—agents (tribes, Kinshasa, Kigali), contexts (colonial echoes, global lungs), realms (ethics, survival, ecology)—a quantum dance where Sherwood’s deer ban stems from the Sheriff’s ego, and Congo’s resource rush reflects greed over justice. This framework, tested across borders, offers a path to green peace.
Why Sharing Grows Stronger
A winner-takes-all approach withers the forest, leaving all poorer. In Sherwood, a war between Liana, Kofi, and Zane thins the game, felled oaks rot unused—nobody eats, and the green heart fades. In the Congo, unchecked exploitation bleeds 1.2 billion tons of carbon yearly (WWF), tribes lose homes to poaching, and rivers choke under mercury from illegal mines. The cost is staggering—$200 million in lost trade (World Bank) and 50,000 displaced (UNHCR). Yet, sharing can multiply the yield, a lesson I tested in 2017 with Kashmir, where India secured water, Pakistan gained security, and locals found jobs, preserving pride on all sides. My Cosmopolitanism (2023, Chapter 6) draws from a 2024 UNDP poll, where 75% of Congolese favor forest protection over plunder, a cry for balance echoed in Sherwood’s villages.
Imagine a council beneath Sherwood’s oaks, where Robin Hood, the Sheriff, Liana, Kofi, and Zane gather. Robin, his cloak rustling like leaves, speaks first. “The forest fed my band through winter—let’s share it, not fight.” The Sheriff, his chainmail glinting, scoffs. “Share the king’s land? My writ demands control!” Liana, hoe in hand, interjects, “My fields feed hundreds—cattle ruin us!” Kofi, bow at rest, nods. “My game vanishes under your timber—honor demands my hunt.” Zane, axe leaning against a tree, grins. “Timber’s my gold—why give it up?” Enter Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s slain independence leader, his spirit fierce. “In 1960, we fought for our land—sharing stopped the bloodshed then.” Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s president, counters, “Trust needs strength—Rwanda guarded its borders post-1994.” Wangari Maathai, Kenya’s Green Belt champion, smiles. “Trees unite—plant peace, not war. In 2004, my trees healed Kenya’s scars.”
The dialogue deepens. Robin proposes, “Zone it—Liana farms north, Kofi hunts south, Zane trades timber, I patrol. Split it 50-30-20.” The Sheriff bristles. “The crown takes half—order demands it!” Lumumba retorts, “Order without justice festers—DRC’s 2017 Accord split forests fairly.” Kagame adds, “Fairness needs enforcement—Rwanda’s rangers proved it.” Maathai suggests, “Enforce with care—Kenya’s reforestation thrived with community hands.” Liana agrees, “If my fields grow, I’ll share cassava.” Kofi nods, “If my game returns, I’ll guide patrols.” Zane hesitates, “If profits flow, I’ll replant.” Robin smiles. “See? The forest feeds all when we bend.”
In the Congo, this scales up. Banyarwanda could farm northern Virunga, Batwa hunt the south, rangers patrol the Commons, with timber and coltan profits—$200 million (World Bank)—funding schools and parks. History whispers hope—Sherwood’s oaks stood centuries before feudal claims; Congo’s tribes thrived millennia before colonial lines. The 1998 Ecuador-Peru peace, backed by guarantors (Brazil, U.S., Argentina, Chile), shows third-party oversight works. Indigenous voices rise—DRC’s Batwa gain traction, Brazil’s Kayapó lead locally—rippling outward. The Congo’s wealth—timber, coltan, oxygen—demands inclusion. Split it right, with zones for farming, hunting, and trade, and the forest breathes for all, a living testament to equity over conquest.
The Thorns of Doubt
Skeptics wield sharp blades: “Sovereignty stands alone—sharing’s a fairy tale.” The Sheriff slams his fist on Sherwood’s council table. “The king’s writ is law—my grip holds this forest!” Liana crosses her arms. “Your taxes starve us—sharing’s a trick!” Kofi glares. “Your fences trap my game—honor rejects it!” Zane laughs, axe raised. “Your rules cut my profit—why trust?” In the Congo, DRC’s army ($1 billion, UNDOF) guards its claim, razing 1,900 km² in 2023 (Imazon) despite global pleas. Power rules—feudal writ in Sherwood, state might in Kinshasa (60% rural support, 2023 election). Leaders feed on strife—the Sheriff’s glory keeps him seated, Kagame’s security bolsters his rule. Outsiders muddy it—Norman lords press the crown, UN troops and firms chase coltan. Indigenous claims lag—the UN’s 2007 Declaration isn’t binding, the ICJ favors states over tribal tenure, trapped in colonial ruts. Who’d trust? A fair barb—my 2017 fix hinges on faith, a rare coin amid old grudges.
Yet the council debates. Robin leans forward. “Sovereignty bends—my band shared with villagers.” The Sheriff snaps, “Bend to outlaws? Madness!” Lumumba’s spirit flares. “In 1960, Congo bent for unity—sharing stopped chaos.” Kagame counters, “Unity needs force—Rwanda’s 1994 survival proved it.” Maathai interjects, “Force with wisdom—Kenya’s 2007 peace grew from dialogue.” Liana softens, “If fields thrive, I’ll try.” Kofi muses, “If game returns, I’ll consider.” Zane grumbles, “If gold flows, I’ll bend.” The Sheriff relents, “If the crown gains, I’ll yield.” Robin nods. “Trust grows from need—let’s test it.”
Sovereignty isn’t pure—it’s a negotiation. My Territorial Disputes (2020) shows Gibraltar’s UK bending to EU ties, ASEAN easing South China Sea tensions. DRC’s 2017 Lusaka Accord held briefly, proving cooperation’s edge. Latin America shifts—Mexico pushes autonomy, Peru’s Indigenous voice rises—tribes gain locally, cracking colonial molds. Portugal’s 1822 exit, Spain’s earlier fade, hint at change. In 2017, I bet on reason—Sherwood’s folk craved peace; Congo’s tribes (80% favor rights, 2024 FUNAI) want life. My Cosmopolitanism (2023) weaves it—Kashmir’s jobs trumped flags; Congo’s air could too. Sharing’s no soft dream—it’s a graft, pruning waste for growth, tested by dialogue under Sherwood’s oaks and Congo’s canopy.
Why This Sprouts in You
Sherwood’s green and Congo’s roots aren’t distant tales—they’re woven into your life. A farmer’s child in Sherwood goes hungry as fields fail; a Batwa elder in Congo breathes smoke, his river poisoned by poaching. *The Borders We Share* offers a chance to replant—split the forest, not the fight, and let justice grow. Next Tuesday, Post 20 explores new lands. I’m Dr. Jorge, crafting this into a book you’ll hold. Visit https://drjorge.world or X (https://x.com/DrJorge_World )—let’s grow this together, from Sherwood’s glades to Congo’s depths, shaping a world where borders unite and forests thrive for all.
Beyond Division: Egalitarian Shared Sovereignty for the Israel–Palestine Conflict
Author
Dr. Jorge Emilio Núñez, Manchester Law School, UK
Executive Summary
The Israel–Palestine conflict, ongoing for over 75 years, has caused approximately 120,000 deaths and $100 billion in economic losses (UN estimates, 1948–2023). Despite decades of negotiations, both one-state and two-state solutions have proven problematic, largely due to their reliance on exclusive sovereignty and their failure to accommodate the region’s plural identities and normative systems.
This brief proposes egalitarian shared sovereignty, a model developed by Dr. Jorge Emilio Núñez, in which sovereignty is shared across agents (e.g., states, communities, individuals) and levels (e.g., local, national, regional), and distributed equitably to ensure no single group dominates decision-making or institutional control. By integrating Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Druze, and Bedouin norms and leveraging regional cooperation, this approach offers a credible path to peace in the Middle East.
Background and Context
Historical Overview Rooted in competing claims to land and identity, the conflict escalated through the 1947 UN Partition Plan, the 1948 and 1967 wars, and the ongoing occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Peace efforts, such as the Oslo Accords (1993) and the Arab Peace Initiative (2002), have stalled over disputes about Jerusalem, borders, and refugee rights.
Sovereignty and International Law Traditional sovereignty, defined as one state’s exclusive control over territory, is unworkable in Israel–Palestine, where overlapping settlements, contested sites (e.g., Jerusalem), and diverse legal, religious, and indigenous systems require a cooperative, multidimensional framework.
Núñez’s Framework: Egalitarian Shared Sovereignty
A Multidimensional and Equitable Model In Cosmopolitanism, State Sovereignty and International Law and Politics (2023), Dr. Núñez defines egalitarian shared sovereignty as a governance model in which sovereignty is shared across agents (e.g., states, communities, individuals, institutions) and levels (e.g., local, national, regional), and distributed equitably to prevent any group from dominating decision-making or institutional control. Like a cooperative where all members have equal say, it ensures inclusive governance. Key features include:
Shared Power: Authority is distributed among diverse stakeholders.
Multilayered Governance: Decisions span local councils, bi-national bodies, and regional organizations.
Normative Pluralism: Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Druze, and Bedouin norms shape governance (e.g., family or land laws).
Adaptability: Governance evolves with social and political realities.
Equity: Marginalized groups, such as Bedouin communities, gain equal influence.
Evidence of Success Shared sovereignty has resolved disputes in the region. For example, Jordan’s 1994 peace treaty with Israel, facilitated by regional dialogue, established cooperative border management. Similarly, the Egypt–Israel Camp David Accords (1978) demonstrate how regional mediation can foster lasting agreements. These precedents support the model’s applicability to Israel–Palestine.
Application to the Israel–Palestine Conflict
Practical Implementation
Jerusalem’s Shared Council: By 2027, form a bi-national council with equal Israeli and Palestinian representation to manage municipal services and religious sites (e.g., Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa).
Dual Citizenship Model: Pilot a program by 2028 allowing Jerusalem residents to hold Israeli or Palestinian identities while sharing rights (e.g., local voting, healthcare access).
Joint Resource Management: Expand the Israel–Palestine Joint Water Committee (est. 1995) to oversee water, energy, and transport, with a $10 million budget by 2026.
Normative Integration: Incorporate Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Druze, and Bedouin legal principles into local governance, starting with pilot courts for family law in 2027.
Regional Mediation: Engage the Arab League or neutral states (e.g., Jordan, Egypt, Qatar) to mediate and monitor a three-year pilot phase (2026–2029), with public progress reports.
Addressing Challenges
Obstacles: Hardline factions, fears of sovereignty loss, and mistrust may impede progress. Solutions:
Start with low-risk pilots, such as water management, building on the 1995 Oslo II agreements.
Use regional mediators (e.g., Jordan, with its 1994 treaty experience) to facilitate dialogue.
Ensure transparency through annual reports audited by the Arab League.
This phased approach, inspired by regional successes like the Jordan–Israel treaty, preserves identities while fostering cooperation.
Policy Recommendations
For Regional Actors (e.g., Arab League, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar)
Fund $5 million (2026–2028) for studies on shared sovereignty frameworks in the Middle East.
Support a $10 million pilot for joint infrastructure in Area C by 2027.
Promote diplomatic language emphasizing “cooperation” over “division.”
For Civil Society
Launch online campaigns (e.g., videos, infographics) to explain shared sovereignty by mid-2026.
Form networks of Israeli, Palestinian, Druze, and Bedouin leaders by 2027.
Host dialogue forums in Jordan or Qatar by 2026 ($1 million budget).
For Israeli and Palestinian Authorities
Establish a joint task force (Knesset, Palestinian Legislative Council) by June 2026 to draft shared governance plans.
Test dual citizenship in Jerusalem by 2028, using existing residency frameworks.
Initiate a $15 million joint public health project (e.g., hospital collaboration) by 2027.
Conclusion
The Israel–Palestine conflict demands a cooperative, equitable solution. Dr. Núñez’s egalitarian shared sovereignty model—distributing power fairly across diverse groups and levels—offers a proven alternative to divisive statehood models. By leveraging Middle Eastern regional mediation, stakeholders can build trust and achieve lasting peace.
References
Núñez, J. E. (2023). Cosmopolitanism, State Sovereignty and International Law and Politics: A Theory. Routledge.
Núñez, J. E. (2025, forthcoming). Territorial Disputes in the Americas. Routledge.
Núñez, J. E. (2020). Territorial Disputes and State Sovereignty. Routledge.
Núñez, J. E. (2017). Sovereignty Conflicts and International Law and Politics. Routledge.
AUTHOR’S SAMPLE PEER-REVIEWED ACADEMIC RESEARCH (FREE OPEN ACCESS):
Want to master the law and geopolitics of territorial disputes? Curious about why leaders like Obama, Trump, Maduro, and Milei act as they do? Eager to explore what’s at stake in Greenland, the Amazon, the Mexico–United States border, Antarctica, or indigenous peoples’ struggles? Territorial Disputes in the Americas, launching August 20, 2025, is your book (pre-sales via Amazon and Routledge now)! This groundbreaking work uses a multidimensional approach to decode the complex conflicts shaping our continent. Join me for a 10-week journey, with weekly posts diving into each chapter, starting next week with Chapter 1’s bold vision. Let’s spark a global conversation about sovereignty and conflict!
Introduction
Territorial disputes—from the Falkland/Malvinas Islands to San Andrés—are more pressing than ever, mirroring global crises like Russia-Ukraine. Yet, traditional analyses often rely on unidimensional lenses, prioritizing law or politics while ignoring emotions, nationalism, or indigenous voices. Territorial Disputes in the Americas challenges this, introducing a multidimensional framework that captures disputes’ full complexity. Chapter 1 critiques biases in legal and political sciences, unveiling the pluralism of pluralisms—a concept embracing diverse agents, contexts, and dimensions. This book unlocks the motivations behind leaders like Maduro’s defiance or Trump’s border rhetoric, and issues from Greenland’s strategic disputes to indigenous rights in the Amazon.
General Structure
The book spans three parts and 10 chapters, applying the multidimensional approach to territorial disputes:
Part 1: Conceptual Foundations
Chapter 1: Introduction – Defines sovereignty, territorial disputes, and pluralism of pluralisms, advocating a multidimensional approach.
Chapter 2: Sovereignty and Territorial Disputes– Explores sovereignty (factual, normative, axiological), dispute claims, and regional peacebuilding mechanisms.
Chapter 3: Pluralism of Pluralisms and the Multidimensional Approach– Details disputes’ multi-subjective, multi-contextual nature, with linear and nonlinear dimensions.
Part 2: Case Studies in the Americas
Chapter 4: Common Roots to Territorial Disputes in the Americas– Traces disputes from pre-Columbian to post-independence eras, highlighting colonial legacies.
Chapter 5: Ongoing European Influence in the Americas– Analyzes cases like the Falkland/Malvinas, San Andrés, Hans Island, and Marouini River disputes.
Chapter 6: Neo-colonialism and Colonial Mindset – Examines influence from the US, Russia, China, and India in regional conflicts.
Chapter 7: Americans versus Americans– Covers intra-regional disputes (e.g., Guatemala-Belize, Venezuela-Guyana), including border and resource conflicts.
Chapter 8: Indigenous Rights and Implanted Populations – Explores indigenous claims versus settler colonialism, focusing on self-determination.
Part 3: Synthesis and Future Directions
Chapter 9: Territorial Claims over Antarctica– Applies the multidimensional approach to Antarctica’s claims, involving Latin America and global powers, and provides policy guidelines to protect humanity’s interests.
Chapter 10: Conclusive Remarks, Limitations, and Future Implications– Offers research and policy guidelines for broader applications.
Aims, Rationale, and Objectives
This book redefines territorial disputes by integrating diverse agents (individuals, communities, states), contexts (domestic, regional, international), and factors (legal, political, emotional). It explains, for example why leaders like may fuel national pride or navigate diplomacy cautiously and may choose to perpetuate differences rather than solving them. From Greenland’s geopolitical tensions to indigenous struggles in the Amazon, it tackles multifaceted issues. Objectives include identifying common theoretical elements, evaluating peacebuilding practices (e.g., the 1998 Brasilia Peace Agreement), and proposing guidelines for future research and policy.
Methodology
Building on my work (Núñez 2017, 2020, 2023), the book uses a modified realist model and case studies. The realist model examines domestic and international variables, while case studies test hypotheses against disputes like the Mexico–United States border or Antarctica’s claims. This dual approach ensures robust, empirically grounded insights.
The Notions of Sovereignty and Territorial Disputes
Sovereignty is dynamic, encompassing factual (de facto), normative (de jure), and axiological (value-based) dimensions. Territorial disputes, narrowly state conflicts over land or water, are broadened to include indigenous and settler claims. For instance, the Falklands/Malvinas reflects Argentina’s identity and Britain’s prestige, while Greenland’s disputes (via Hans Island) involve strategic interests. This book redefines these concepts to decode leaders’ actions, from Trump’s border policies to Maduro’s territorial posturing.
The Notions of Pluralism of Pluralisms and Multidimensional Analysis
Disputes are multi-subjective (individuals, communities, states), multi-contextual (local, regional, international), and multi-faceted (rational, empirical, axiological). The *pluralism of pluralisms* embraces diverse agents, roles, and dimensions (linear like time, nonlinear like chaotic interactions). For example, the San Andrés dispute involves legal claims, Raizal identity, and Colombia’s strategy. The multidimensional approach integrates these, rejecting unidimensional analyses to illuminate conflicts like those over the Amazon or Antarctica.
Choice of Examples
The book examines disputes involving sovereign states (e.g., Falklands/Malvinas, Venezuela-Guyana) and broader issues like indigenous rights and Antarctica’s claims. Cases like the Mexico–United States border highlight migratory tensions, while Greenland’s disputes reflect global interests. These examples showcase colonial legacies, neo-colonial influences, and peacebuilding strategies, such as regional guarantors in the Ecuador-Peru resolution.
Conclusion
Territorial Disputes in the Americas is your essential guide to the law, geopolitics, and human stories behind our continent’s conflicts. Whether you’re intrigued by Obama’s diplomacy, Milei’s rhetoric, indigenous rights, or disputes in Greenland, the Amazon, or Antarctica, this book delivers fresh insights. Starting next week, I’ll share weekly posts exploring each chapter, beginning with Chapter 1’s call to rethink sovereignty. Follow along, share your thoughts, and join the conversation! Pre-order details below!
Get a Sneak Peek
Want a preview of the book’s ideas? Check out my blog posts for a multidimensional glimpse into territorial disputes:
My series, The Borders We Share, launched March 4, 2025, probes these divides. A sample post (https://drjorge.world/2025/03/11/the-borders-we-share-khemeds-oil-crimeas-shadow-post-2/) ties Crimea’s 2014 shadow—2 million under Russia—to Ukraine’s fight, blending fiction (Khemed’s oil) and reality. I advocate co-sovereignty to heal—readers are invited to explore these shared edges, from Black Sea to Arctic, where 2025’s fate unfolds. Next week, Post #3: Sherlock’s Docks, Ireland’s Edge: Clues to Equal Ground (i.e. Imagine Sherlock Holmes untangling a dockside brawl over fish and fog—then picture Northern Ireland’s border after Brexit, a real-life riddle of fences and feelings).
NOTE:
New posts every Thursday.
NEXT POST:
Preview Chapter 1: Introduction – Defines sovereignty, territorial disputes, and pluralism of pluralisms, advocating a multidimensional approach.
AUTHOR’S SAMPLE PEER-REVIEWED ACADEMIC RESEARCH (FREE OPEN ACCESS):
