Annexation is the act of joining two things together, often with a subordinate attached to a greater thing. It can refer to the annexation of territories by nations, incorporation of land by entities, or attachment of legal documents. Annexation is no longer recognized as a legitimate political tool by the United Nations after being condemned post-World War II.
Attachment is an activity in which two things are joined together, usually with a subordinate or lesser thing attached to a greater thing. In strict legal terms, annexation simply implies a consolidation or union, but many people use the term specifically to discuss the annexation of territories by nations who feel they have a right over them. A number of nations have historically expanded their political power through annexation, although the United Nations no longer recognizes annexation as a legitimate political tool.
In a legal sense, when something is attached, it is added to or added to something else. For example, someone could attach a will by adding a codicil that modifies its terms, or attach personal assets by legally attaching them to real estate. The annexation into the legal community does not carry the same implications as other forms of annexation.
Within a nation, incorporated entities may choose to annex neighboring land. This decision is usually made when a built-up area wants to expand, or when it is already serving people outside its borders, and wants to create a more formal arrangement. Usually, annexation is only allowed if the residents of the land being annexed vote to support it in a ballot, and annexation is sometimes against it because people fear higher tax rates and other issues that can arise when land is annexed by a nearby larger city.
In the international community, annexation involves a nation claiming a territory and declaring that the territory is now part of the annexed nation. For example, the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898 with the goal of expanding control into the Pacific. These types of annexations often take the form of a takeover, in which a larger, more powerful state exercises control over a smaller territory or nation, effectively forcing it to join. Some people refer to this activity as conquering land or power, as it is usually done with the goal of benefiting the nation making the annexation.
After World War II, the United Nations passed a resolution condemning the annexation and stating that future annexations of territory would not be recognized by the international community, thus invalidating them. This was done partly as a reaction to the annexations used by Germany to gain control over continental Europe during the war. A handful of annexations have occurred since this period, usually in a legal gray area which makes it difficult to categorically determine whether they should be classified as annexations.
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