Distinct Persons; Distinct Territories: Rethinking the Spaces of International Organizations

Abstract Implicit spatial assumptions inform the law of international organisations, including very concept an organization. In this paper, I argue that reproduction a physicalized and stato-centric notion territory informs idea organizations are functional entities without territories because ‘territory’ – as it has been long conceptualised already apportioned among states. While other disciplines underwent major epistemic change in their conceptualization space, retained reified its spaces, especially so territory. As result, lawyers have assumed only states can be territorial actors. Yet with reconceptualisation territory, inspired by thinkers such Lefebvre, we might instead think spaces organisations territories, constituted through social practices exercising control. Moreover, is distinct from member not simply aggregate states’ territories.