Government Recognition and the Dispute over the Venezuelan Gold Reserves in the Bank of England

Abstract

Public international law cloaks the process of government recognition with neutrality. It does this by concealing its political, discretional nature and disregarding the far-reaching consequences for the citizens of the country concerned. The dispute over Venezuelan gold in the Bank of England provides a case study as the gold reserves or its proceeds remain out of the reach of the Venezuelan people. It presents unique features as the UK courts have to determine which of the two competing governments represents Venezuela’s legitimate interest. This article focuses on the relationship between government recognition and coloniality to illustrate how the law reproduces neocolonial rationalities under the guise of neutrality. It conceals a morally superior self-perception of those advancing an international political order dehumanising the lives of ‘the other’. Ultimately, government recognition has far-reaching implications for the international order since it risks becoming a discretionary practice to support or boycott regimes.