Editing Diplomatic recognition (section)

{{Short description|Political act where a state acknowledges an act or status of another state/government}}
{{Redirect|State recognition|state-recognized Native American tribes|State-recognized tribes in the United States}}

[[File:Pedro I of Brazil and Charles Stuart .jpg|thumb|Allegory of the recognition of the [[Empire of Brazil]] and [[Independence of Brazil|its independence]]. The painting depicts British diplomat [[Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay|Sir Charles Stuart]] presenting his [[letter of credence]] to Emperor [[Pedro I of Brazil]], who is flanked by his wife [[Maria Leopoldina of Austria|Maria Leopoldina]], their daughter Maria da Glória (later Queen [[Maria II of Portugal]]), and other dignitaries. At right, a winged figure, representing [[History]], carving the "great event" on a stone tablet.<ref>{{Cite book|title=''As barbas do imperador : D. Pedro II, um monarca nos trópicos ''|last1=Schwarcz|first1=Lilia Moritz|date=1998|pages = 181|publisher=Companhia das Letras|isbn=85-7164-837-9|edition=|location=São Paulo|oclc=}}</ref>]]

'''Diplomatic recognition'''  in [[public international law|international law]] is a [[unilateral]] declarative political act of a [[sovereign state|state]] that acknowledges an act or status of another state or [[government]] in control of a state (may be also a recognized state). Recognition can be accorded either on a ''[[de facto]]'' or ''[[de jure]]'' basis. Partial recognition can occur if many sovereign states refuse to recognize an entity as a peer. Recognition can be a declaration to that effect by the recognizing government or may be implied from an act of recognition, such as entering into a [[treaty]] with the other state or making a [[state visit]]. Recognition may, but need not, have domestic and international legal consequences. If sufficient countries recognize a particular entity as a state, that state may have a right to membership in [[international organization]]s, while treaties may require all existing member countries unanimously agreeing to the admission of a new member.

A vote by a country in the [[United Nations]] in favour of the [[Member states of the United Nations|membership]] of another country is an implicit recognition of that country by the country so voting, as only states may be members of the UN. On the other hand, a negative vote for UN membership does not necessarily mean non-recognition of the applicant as a state, as other criteria, requirements or special circumstances may be considered relevant for UN membership. Similarly, a country may choose not to apply for UN membership for its own reasons, as is the case with [[Holy See|Vatican City]], and [[Switzerland]] was not a member until 2002 because of its concerns to maintain its [[Swiss neutrality|neutrality policy]].

The non-recognition of particular acts of a state does not normally affect the recognition of the state itself. For example, the international rejection of the [[Military occupation|occupation]] of particular territory by a recognized state does not imply non-recognition of the state itself, nor a rejection of a change of government by illegal means.