The overarching principles of LISD are outlined in the Liechtenstein Draft Convention on Self-Determination Through Self-Administration (2002), which was drafted by Hans-Adam II and Sir Arthur Watts.[4][5] The manuscript outlines the general principle of self-determination as detailed by the United Nations General Assembly. It addresses, not only the set of proposals and technical requirements for the so-called Liechtenstein Initiative, but it also considers the structure of a treaty as a legal instrument for future cases.[6]
History
In 2000, Prince Hans Adam II (born 1945) established a fund for the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, which was based at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey.[7] The $12 million gift provides funding, support, and space for faculty, students, and policymakers to engage in research on self-determination. Founding Director Wolfgang Danspeckgruber remarked that LISD aims to "reduce the tumultuous and frequently violent process inherent in the search for increased autonomy.”[8] The early projects at LISD included one on state power, borders, and self-governance in the former Soviet Union, and another that sought to analyze tensions among separatist groups in Kashmir.[9] Since then, LISD has broadened in scope to include projects in a wide variety of geographic regions. More recent projects include LISD's focus on conflicts in the Balkan region, especially in states such as Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. There has also been interest in researching aspects of Tibetan self-determination in partnership with the Association for Asian Studies.[10]
The Institute organizes a number of courses at Princeton University, including "Theory and Practice of International Diplomacy" and "Topics in International Relations: International Crisis Diplomacy". These courses aim to provide undergraduate and graduate students with foundational knowledge about the causes and implications of geopolitical conflicts and crises.[14][15] In October 2018, LISD co-sponsored a new online edX course with Tel Aviv University entitled "HOPE: Human Odyssey to Political Existentialism".[16] The course explores various themes that define humanity.[17] Outside of coursework, students are able take part in various initiatives such as the Emerging Foreign and Security Dimensions (EFSD) Fellowship or the Program on Religion, Diplomacy, and International Relations (PORDIR).[18][19]
Research
Faculty and Fellows
Faculty and research Fellows of LISD frequently publish in national and international media outlets.[20][21][22] Resident Fellows spend a year at Princeton University. Faculty and Fellows associated with LISD include:
Jennifer Widner - Professor of Politics and International Affairs, director of the Mamdouha S. Bobst Center for Peace and Justice
Deborah Yashar - Professor of Politics and International Affairs, co-director of the Democracy and Development Project
Events
LISD hosts a number of workshop, events, and seminars for Princeton-affiliated students, faculty, and staff, as well as the general public. Most events are held on campus at Bendheim Hall, while some have been hosted by the Princeton Club of New York and the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.[23][24][25][26][27][28]
LISD also runs a number of research tools that provide scholars, think tanks, and governments access to original research. These tools include Encyclopedia Princetoniensis: The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self-Determination (PESD), Diachronic Global Corpus (DiGCor), and the Digital Interactive Regional Mapping and Information System (DIRMAIS).[31] DIRMAIS combines historical and contemporary data to visualize international crises.[32]
