Matthew Parish
Encyclopedia
Matthew Parish is a lawyer and scholar of international relations
. He is best known for his writings about the politics of the western Balkans, in particular his prediction of the secession of Republika Srpska
from Bosnia and Herzegovina and his criticisms of the international community's presence in the country. His writings have been the subject of widespread commentary in the national and international press, both supportive and critical.
, Switzerland
with the international law firm Holman Fenwick Willan. He was formerly Chief Legal Adviser to the International Supervisor of Brčko District
, a region of northern Bosnia and Herzegovina run as a protectorate by the US Government since 1997. He previously worked in the legal department of the World Bank
. He is an English barrister
and a New York attorney, and teaches at the University of Geneva
.
, the Serb-dominated half of the country, relied upon the article to argue for closure of OHR.
Parish's most significant controversy arose when in 2009 he published "Republika Srpska: After Independence", which predicted secession of Republika Srpska
from the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina
. It was immediately front page news in Bosnia's biggest selling daily, and was the subject of damning editorial criticism. Valentin Inzko
, the High Representative, appeared on national television and in the national press, describing the article as "extremely irresponsible". The piece also attracted international attention in connection with Kosovo's declaration of independence.
Parish has written a commentary criticizing the 22 July 2010 decision of the International Court of Justice
declaring Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence to be lawful, which he attacks as irrational and exhibiting judicial partiality. He also considers the implications of the ruling for the attempted secession of Republika Srpska
, and his comments have been seized upon by RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik
.
Parish's book on reconstruction in post-war Bosnia, "A Free City in the Balkans", has attracted national attention. The book has been described as "telling the story of the successes wrought by innovative policy and the dangers of premature disengagement" and a "damning critique of the role and the actions of the OHR and the state-building attempts by the international community [that] can make for uncomfortable reading". The book has been criticized for being too skeptical of the international community's statebuilding efforts in the country.
While Parish purports to provide a critique of the international community's activities in the Balkans, at least one commentator has referred to his views as "colonialist." Parish writes occasional columns for the Sarajevo-based newspaper Oslobodjenje and for Balkan Insight
.
remains an anarchy, but international courts (and indeed international organizations in general) are part of an illusion that the world is ordered in accordance with moral principles.
and the University of Chicago Law School
, where he obtained his doctorate. From 2009 to 2010 he was a Fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He is originally from Harrogate
, Yorkshire
.
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. He is best known for his writings about the politics of the western Balkans, in particular his prediction of the secession of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
from Bosnia and Herzegovina and his criticisms of the international community's presence in the country. His writings have been the subject of widespread commentary in the national and international press, both supportive and critical.
Career
Parish is an international lawyer who works in GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with the international law firm Holman Fenwick Willan. He was formerly Chief Legal Adviser to the International Supervisor of Brčko District
Brcko District
Brčko District in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina is a neutral, self-governing administrative unit, under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, a region of northern Bosnia and Herzegovina run as a protectorate by the US Government since 1997. He previously worked in the legal department of the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
. He is an English barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and a New York attorney, and teaches at the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
.
Writings on Balkan politics
Shortly after leaving Bosnia in 2007, Parish wrote "The Demise of the Dayton Protectorate", which became front page news in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The piece accused the international community of running post-war Bosnia as a colony, and predicted that the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the country's post-war governor, would soon collapse. This article subsequently became cited in the state-building literature, and was said to be a catalyst for disintegration of the country's international governing structure. Republika SrpskaRepublika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, the Serb-dominated half of the country, relied upon the article to argue for closure of OHR.
Parish's most significant controversy arose when in 2009 he published "Republika Srpska: After Independence", which predicted secession of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
from the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. It was immediately front page news in Bosnia's biggest selling daily, and was the subject of damning editorial criticism. Valentin Inzko
Valentin Inzko
Valentin Inzko is an Austrian diplomat of Carinthian Slovene origin. He is currently serving as the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, a role which he assumed on March 26, 2009. He is at the same time the European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and...
, the High Representative, appeared on national television and in the national press, describing the article as "extremely irresponsible". The piece also attracted international attention in connection with Kosovo's declaration of independence.
Parish has written a commentary criticizing the 22 July 2010 decision of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
declaring Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence to be lawful, which he attacks as irrational and exhibiting judicial partiality. He also considers the implications of the ruling for the attempted secession of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, and his comments have been seized upon by RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik
Milorad Dodik
Milorad Dodik , is the President of Republika Srpska, and the president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats political party. He graduated from the Belgrade University of Political Sciences .-Political career:...
.
Parish's book on reconstruction in post-war Bosnia, "A Free City in the Balkans", has attracted national attention. The book has been described as "telling the story of the successes wrought by innovative policy and the dangers of premature disengagement" and a "damning critique of the role and the actions of the OHR and the state-building attempts by the international community [that] can make for uncomfortable reading". The book has been criticized for being too skeptical of the international community's statebuilding efforts in the country.
While Parish purports to provide a critique of the international community's activities in the Balkans, at least one commentator has referred to his views as "colonialist." Parish writes occasional columns for the Sarajevo-based newspaper Oslobodjenje and for Balkan Insight
Balkan Insight
Balkan Insight is a publication of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network , that focusses on news, analysis, commentary and investigative reporting from southeast Europe...
.
Constructivism in international relations
Parish's book "Mirages of International Justice", advances a constructivist account of international law. He thinks sovereign states would never agree to create genuinely impartial and independent international courts that would enforce international law against themselves. Thus international courts are deliberately made powerless, and they occupy precarious roles in the balance of power in which they are liable to make decisions in accordance with Great Power interests. International tribunals proliferate not because states want to see international justice done but because they want to associate themselves with the ideals captured in discourse about international law without making any real commitments. The world of international relationsInternational relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
remains an anarchy, but international courts (and indeed international organizations in general) are part of an illusion that the world is ordered in accordance with moral principles.
Other academic works
Parish has written a number of other academic and scholarly articles, including:- An Essay on the Accountability of International Organizations
- International Officials
- On Necessity
- Why are developing world private finance contracts so difficult to get right?
Education and background
Parish is a graduate of Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
and the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
, where he obtained his doctorate. From 2009 to 2010 he was a Fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He is originally from Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
External links
- Matthew Parish's website
- Government of Republika Srpska
- Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice in Kosovo's Declaration of Independence
- Government of Brcko District
- Interview with Matthew Parish, 28 August 2010, Part 1
- Interview with Matthew Parish, 29 August 2010, Part 2
- Interview with Matthew Parish, 16 February 2011