The Sovereignty Vacuum and the Doctrine of Active Legal Silence: A New Paradigm in Legal Archaeology

The Sovereignty Vacuum and the Doctrine of Active Legal Silence

A New Paradigm in Legal Archaeology

Author: Former Amb. Prof. h.c. Dr. Drasko Acimovic
Affiliation: International Academy of Sciences and Arts in Bosnia and Herzegovina (IANUBIH)
Department: Diaspora and International Public Law
Scientific Priority Registration: March 25, 2026

EXTENDED ABSTRACT (PRE-PUBLICATION SUMMARY)

This document serves as the formal registration of scientific priority for a fundamental re-evaluation of the continuity of status civitatis within contested international territories. Utilizing the innovative framework of Legal Archaeology, the research defines and establishes two pioneering legal doctrines:

1.    The Sovereignty Vacuum: A rigorous analysis of the jurisdictional limitations of international provisoriums (specifically 1878–1908) and their legal incapacity to terminate original acquired rights or impose mandatory naturalization.

2.    The Doctrine of Active Legal Silence (Silentium Iuris): Establishing the principle of Legal Retention, where intentional administrative passivity and the absence of animus naturalizandi (intent to naturalize) serve as a valid and superior legal mechanism for the preservation of original citizenship rights across successive political regimes.

Note on Evidence: The comprehensive research paper, supported by exclusive primary archival evidence (1878–1947) recently verified in February 2026, is currently under restricted peer-review for international journal publication.

Keywords: Sovereignty Vacuum, Active Legal Silence, Legal Retention, Legal Archaeology, Ius Sanguinis, IANUBIH.

Copyright © 2026 by Draško Aćimović. All rights reserved.
This document is issued for the purpose of securing a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and establishing academic priority.