Editing Montevideo Convention (section)

== Contents of the convention ==
Article 1 sets out the criteria for statehood:
{{Quote|The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states.}}

The first sentence of Article 3 states that "the political existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states." This is known as the [[declarative theory of statehood]]. It stands in contrast with the [[constitutive theory of statehood]], by which a state exists only insofar as it is recognized by other states. It should not be confused with the [[recognition of states approach|Estrada doctrine]]. "Independence" and "sovereignty" are not mentioned in article 1.<ref>see for example [https://books.google.com/books?id=LQCgNzL3RJQC&pg=PA110&dq=&ei=5uyESebICJr2McXMpIoI&client=#PPA110,M1 State Failure, Sovereignty and Effectiveness, Legal Lessons from the Decolonization of Sub-Saharan Africa, Gerard Kreijen, Published by Martinus Nijhoff, 2004], {{ISBN|90-04-13965-6}}, page 110</ref>

An important part of the convention was a prohibition of using military force to gain sovereignty. According to Article 11 of the convention,<ref name="Hersch Lauterpacht 2012 419"/>

{{Quote|The contracting states definitely establish the rule of their conduct the precise obligation not to recognize territorial acquisitions or advantages that have been obtained by force whether this consists in the employment of arms, in threatening diplomatic representations, or in any other effective coercive measure}}