nonintercourse

nonintercourse, in international law, refusal of a state to engage in diplomatic or commercial relations with another state. It is a hostile act of retaliation for some wrong and is intended to effect redress. Since nations normally have diplomatic and commercial intercourse, nonintercourse may in some circumstances be a threat of war.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.