A dispute is a disagreement, conflict or argument between parties on a specific issue and usually involves different views, interests or claims. In international relations, it is a disagreement that arises between two or more states, international organizations or actors and cannot be resolved due to different interests, values or benefits. These disagreements usually have political, economic, social or cultural roots.

• Brownlie, I. (2008). Principles of public international law (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.