The overarching principles of LISD are outlined in theLiechtenstein Draft Convention on Self-Determination Through Self-Administration (2002), which was drafted by Hans-Adam II andSir Arthur Watts.[4][5] The manuscript outlines the general principle ofself-determination as detailed by theUnited 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]
In 2000,Prince Hans Adam II (born 1945) established a fund for the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, which was based at Princeton University inPrinceton, 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 DirectorWolfgang 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 formerSoviet Union, and another that sought to analyze tensions among separatist groups inKashmir.[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 theBalkan region, especially in states such asKosovo,Montenegro, andNorth Macedonia. There has also been interest in researching aspects ofTibetan self-determination in partnership with theAssociation 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 onlineedX course withTel 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]
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:
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 thePrinceton Club of New York and the headquarters of theUnited 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 includeEncyclopedia 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]
