孙倩
    I.Introduction
    Inaworldofever-increasingtransnationalinteraction,theimportanceofindividualprotectionduringtheprocessesconcurrentlyincreases.Nationalityistheprincipallinkbetweenindividualsandstatesbutalsoisthebridgeconnectingindividualswithinternationallaw.Itisjustthroughthelinkageofnationalitycanapersonenjoydiplomaticprotectionbyhisparentstate.Butduetodoublenationality,therearelotsofdifficultiestoeffectivediplomaticprotectionofindividuals.Theprincipleofeffectivenationalitywasformedthroughthejudicialpracticeofinternationalcourtofjustice.Whatisthemeaningoftheprincipleofeffectivenationality?Isitaperfecttheoryinthefaceofdiplomaticprotectionofdualnational?Inthisarticle,theauthorwillintroducetheconceptofthisprincipleandgiveheropinionsonit.
    II:Theconceptofprincipleofeffectivenationality
    Nationalityofanindividualishisqualityofbeingasubjectofacertainstate.Nationalityisofcriticalimportancetoindividuals,especiallywithregardtoindividualsabroadortheirproperty.Firstly,itisthemainlinkbetweenindividualandastate.Itisevidencethatonecanbeprotectedbyhisparentstate.
    Secondly,tosomeextent,individualsarenotthesubjectsofinternationallaw,sotheycannotdirectlyenjoytherightsandundertakeresponsibilitiescomingfrominternationallaw.Itisthroughthemediumoftheirnationalitythatindividualscannormallyenjoybenefitsfrominternationallaw.
    Inprinciple,nationalityasatermoflocalormunicipallawisusuallydeterminedbythelawofparticularstate.Eachstatehasdiscretionofdeterminingwhoisandwhoisnot,tobeconsidereditsnationals.However,thereisnogenerallybindingrulesconcerningacquisitionandlossofnationality,andasthelawsofdifferentstatesdifferinmanypointsrelatingtothismatter,soitisbeyondsurprisingthatanindividualmayprocessmorethanonenationalityaseasilyasnoneatall.Butwhethereachgrantednationalityownedbythesedualnationalshasinternationaleffectsisindoubt.Inanotherword,thedeterminationbyeachstateofthegrantofitsownnationalityisnotnecessarilytobeacceptedinternationallywithoutquestion.Especially,whenadualnationalseeksdiplomaticprotectioninsomethirdstate,thatstateisnotanswerabletobothofstatesofhisnationalitybutonlyoneofthem.Inthissituation,thethirdstateisentitledtojudgewhichnationalityshouldberecognized.
    AsstatedinArt1oftheHagueConventionof1930oncertainquestionsrelatingtotheconflictofnationalitylaws,whileitisforeachstatetodetermineunderitsownlawwhoareitsnationals,suchlawmustberecognizedbyotherstatesonly“insofarasitisconsistentwithinternationalconventions,internationalcustom,andtheprincipleoflawgenerallyrecognizedwithregardtonationality”.Inthe“Nottebohm”case,theInternationalCourtofJusticeregardnationalityas:‘alegalbondhavingasitsbasisasocialfactofattachment,agenuineconnectionofexistenceandsentiments,togetherwiththeexistenceofreciprocalrightsandduties.Itmaybeuponwhomitisconferred,eitherdirectlybythelaworasaresultofanactoftheauthorities,isinfactmorecloselyconnectedwiththepopulationofthestateconferringnationalitythanwiththatofanyotherstate’Thatiswhatiscalledtherealandeffectivenationality.Derivingfromthecourt’sopinion,theprincipleofeffectivenationalitycameintobeing.Theessentialpartsofeffectiveandrealnationalityarethatwhichaccordedwiththefacts,whichbasedonstrongerfactualtiesbetweenthepersonconcernedandoneofthestateswhosenationalityisinvolved.Differentfactorsaretakenintoconsideration,andtheirimportancewillvaryfromonecasetothenext:thehabitualresidenceoftheindividualconcernedisanimportantfactor,butthereareotherfactorssuchasthecentreofhisinterests,hisfamilies,hisparticipationinpubliclife,attachmentshownbyhimforagivencountryandinculcatedinhischildren,etc.Accordingtothisprinciple,nostateisunderobligationtorecognizeanationalitygrantednotmeetingtherequirementsofit.IntheNottebohmcase,InternationalCourtofJusticefirstenunciatedthisprincipleanddeniedLiechtensteintherighttoprotectNottebohm.
    III．Nottebohmcaseandreviewsontheprincipleofeffectivenationality
    IntheNottebohmcase,involvingLiechtensteinandGuatemala,theformersoughtrestitutionandcompensationonbehalfofNottebohmforthelatter’sactionsallegedlyinviolationofinternationallaw.
    Nottebohm,aGermannationalresidentinGuatemala,hadlargebusinessinterestthereandinGermany.HealsohadabrotherinLiechtenstein,whomheoccasionallyvisited.WhilestillaGermannational,NottebohmappliedfornaturalizationinLiechtensteinonOctober9,1939,shortlyaftertheGermaninvasionofPoland.Relievedofthethree-yearresidencerequirements,NottebohmpaidhisfeesandtaxestoLiechtensteinandbecameanaturalizedcitizenofLiechtensteinbytakinganoathofallegianceonOctober20,1939,therebyforfeitinghisGermannationalityunderthenationalitylawofLiechtenstein.HereturnedtoLiechtensteinearlyin1949onaLiechtensteinpassporttoresumehisbusinessactivities.Athisrequest,theGuatemalanministryofExternalAffairschangedtheNotteb