Recently, in political circles and on television, new words are increasingly heard related to international law and relations. What is a demarche, what are its causes and in what forms is this protest expressed? What are the most famous demarches held recently and what does this concept mean for our country? You can learn all this in our article.
Meaning of the word “demarche”
The word "demarche" of French origin. Démarche - "gait, deed," démarcher - "bother, go home." It is mainly used as a political and legal term.
What is a demarche? This is a diplomatic act of the will of the highest representatives of the state (head, government, foreign department) addressed to another country (its leaders) in connection with the inability to resolve the conflict situation peacefully. This is a combination of certain means and actions designed to indicate their position regarding the actions of another power that violate domestic and international standards.
Recently, this word began to be used in everyday life (for example, a neighbor’s, political demarche). In this case, the concept takes on a second meaning, close to legal, but simpler.
What is a figurative demarche? Sometimes this word refers to an unexpected act, a sharp attack, the action of one person against another with a serious statement or protest against the behavior of the latter.
Causes
The demarche is used in extreme cases when no diplomatic means are no longer in effect. If negotiations, consultations, agreements cannot solve the problem, he is the last attempt to express his opinion in the international arena, to declare his disagreement and to warn about the possible consequences.
The reason for such an act is actions (or their absence) on the part of another subject of international relations (the state, its head, government or other authorities) that violate international standards, human rights and freedom, the territorial integrity of a certain country, as well as in other cases, which caused or can cause serious consequences for the life and health of people, violate the foundations of statehood and diplomacy.
Method of expression and content
Demarche can be demonstrated both in written and verbal form. There is simply no strict legal designation of a way of expressing a protest, each country decides on the choice of the type of this expression of will on its own.
In writing, a demarche is a diplomatic act drawn up in the form of a request, statement, warning, recall, demand, protest or memorandum.
In oral form, it takes the form of a statement, appeal, boycott, etc.
The purpose of the demarche is to convey to the second state and other countries their opinion, to express disagreement with the current situation, to propose measures to strengthen peace and cooperation between the parties to the conflict.
The implementation of such a diplomatic move must strictly comply with generally recognized norms of international law. According to paragraph 3 of Art. 2 of the UN Charter, all members of the organization should resolve their disputes and conflicts only by peaceful means, so as not to endanger the life and health of people, general security and justice.
Known facts
The most famous demarches are the boycotts of the Olympic Games (22nd in Moscow and 23rd in Los Angeles). In the first case, many countries (Japan, USA, Germany and others) expressed their protest against the hostilities of the Soviet state in Afghanistan. After that, after 4 years, the USSR and several countries that supported it (including the eastern part of Germany) answered the United States the same, hiding behind the fear that the athletes would be safe.
Thus, the games of 1980 and 1984 entered the history of the Olympics as “inferior”, because the absence of many strong athletes adversely affected the entertainment and performance of the events.
Demarche in Russia
What is a demarche for our state? In connection with the latest events in Ukraine, this is one of the last and quite often used ways to announce to the world what is really happening between countries. Only in the last days of Ukraine, three demarches were announced as a sign of protest against the shelling of the Russian border, the introduction of vehicles into the Russian Federation and the continuation of the war with the civilian population of Ukraine.