International Law
ANDERS HENRIKSEN
Erasmus Universiteit| RD116 Introduction to International and European
Law | 21 april 2023
,Inhoudsopgave
Hoofdstuk 1 Foundations and structure of international law.................................5
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 5
1.2 A brief history of international law...............................................................5
1.2.1 Early modern international law...............................................................5
1.2.3 The 19th century and the era of positivism.............................................6
1.2.4 The interwar period................................................................................6
1.2.5 The period after the Second World War.................................................6
1.2.6 The present............................................................................................. 6
1.3 The structures of international law...............................................................7
1.3.1 Introduction – a society of sovereign nation states.................................7
1.3.2 The international law of coexistence.......................................................7
1.3.3 The international law of cooperation......................................................7
1.4 The basis of international obligation.............................................................7
1.5 The relationship between international law and national law.......................8
1.6 The issue of enforcement of international law..............................................8
1.7 The alleged inadequacy of international law in the 21st century.................8
Hoofdstuk 2 Sources of international law............................................................10
2.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 10
2.2 Article 38 of the Statue of the International Court of Justice......................10
2.3 Conventions (treaties) as a legal source.....................................................11
2.4 Custom as a source of international law.....................................................11
2.4.1 Introduction..........................................................................................11
2.4.2 The objective element – state practice..................................................11
2.4.3 The subjective requirement – opinio juris.............................................12
2.4.4 The relationship between custom and treaty law.................................12
2.5 General principles as a source of law..........................................................12
2.6 Judicial decisions......................................................................................... 12
2.7 Scholarly contributions and the ILC............................................................13
2.8 Unilateral statements..................................................................................13
2.9 Hierarchy of sources...................................................................................13
2.10 Non-binding commitments and the concept op ‘soft law’ instruments.....14
Hoofdstuk 3 The law of treaties...........................................................................15
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 15
3.2 The treaty as a concept under international law.........................................15
3.3 The authority to conclude a treaty..............................................................15
PAGINA 1
, 3.4 Treaties between states and international organizations...........................15
3.5 Consent to be bound...................................................................................15
3.6 Entry into force – obligations in the interim period....................................16
3.7 Validity........................................................................................................ 16
3.8 Reservations................................................................................................17
3.9 Interpretation..............................................................................................18
3.10 Taking account of changes........................................................................18
3.11 Termination and withdrawal.....................................................................18
Hoofdstuk 4 The actors in the international legal system....................................19
4.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 19
4.2 The state..................................................................................................... 19
4.2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................19
4.2.2 Recognition........................................................................................... 19
4.2.3 The Montevideo criteria........................................................................20
4.2.4 Illegality in the creation of a ‘state’......................................................20
4.2.5 The right to self-determination.............................................................20
4.2.6 The acquisition of new territory............................................................21
4.2.7 State succession....................................................................................22
4.2.8 Extinction.............................................................................................. 22
4.3 International organizations.........................................................................22
4.4 Individuals................................................................................................... 23
4.5 Other actors in international law................................................................23
4.5.1 Territorial entities other than states.....................................................23
4.5.2 Groups of individuals............................................................................23
4.5.3 Private corporations..............................................................................23
4.5.4 Non-governmental organizations..........................................................23
4.5.5 Nature as a legal subject?.....................................................................24
Hoofdstuk 5 Jurisdiction.......................................................................................25
5.2 Jurisdiction to prescribe..............................................................................25
5.2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................25
5.2.2 Territorial jurisdiction...........................................................................25
5.2.3 Jurisdiction on the basis of nationality..................................................26
5.2.4 The passive personality principle..........................................................26
5.2.5 Protective jurisdiction...........................................................................26
5.2.6 Universal jurisdiction............................................................................27
5.2.7 Concurring/overlapping jurisdictions....................................................27
5.2.8 Jurisdiction over aircraft and ships.......................................................27
PAGINA 2
, 5.3 Jurisdiction to enforce.................................................................................28
Hoofdstuk 7 State responsibility..........................................................................29
7.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 29
7.2 The basic principles of state responsibility.................................................29
7.3 Attribution of conduct.................................................................................29
7.3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................29
7.3.2 Attribution for acts performed by the state and its organs...................29
7.3.3 Attribution for acts performed by organs exercising governmental
authority......................................................................................................... 30
7.3.4 Attribution for acts by organs ‘on loan’ from another state..................30
7.3.5 Responsibility for acts ultra vires.........................................................30
7.3.8 Responsibility for acts subsequently acknowledged and adopted........30
7.4 State responsibility in relation to acts of other states.................................30
7.5 Circumstances precluding wrongfulness....................................................31
7.1 Introduction............................................................................................. 31
7.5.2 Consent................................................................................................. 31
7.5.3 Self-defence..........................................................................................31
7.5.4 Lawful countermeasures.......................................................................31
7.5.5 Force majeure.......................................................................................32
7.5.6 Distress.................................................................................................32
7.5.7 Necessity............................................................................................... 32
7.5.8 Circumstances precluding wrongfulness and jus cogens......................32
7.6 Consequences of wrongful conduct.............................................................33
7.6.1 Introduction..........................................................................................33
7.6.2 The cessation of wrongful conduct.......................................................33
7.6.3 The duty to make reparation.................................................................33
7.6.4 Obligations of third states following breaches of jus cogens................33
7.7 Who may invoke a breach of international law?..........................................33
7.7.1 Introduction – the injured state.............................................................33
7.7.2 Obligations erga omnes........................................................................33
7.8 Diplomatic protection..................................................................................34
7.9 The international responsibility of international organizations..................35
Hoofdstuk 12 The peaceful settlement of disputes..............................................36
12.1 Introduction..............................................................................................36
12.2 Non-adjudicatory means of settling international disputes.......................36
12.3 Arbitration.................................................................................................37
12.4 The international Court of Justice.............................................................37
PAGINA 3
ANDERS HENRIKSEN
Erasmus Universiteit| RD116 Introduction to International and European
Law | 21 april 2023
,Inhoudsopgave
Hoofdstuk 1 Foundations and structure of international law.................................5
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 5
1.2 A brief history of international law...............................................................5
1.2.1 Early modern international law...............................................................5
1.2.3 The 19th century and the era of positivism.............................................6
1.2.4 The interwar period................................................................................6
1.2.5 The period after the Second World War.................................................6
1.2.6 The present............................................................................................. 6
1.3 The structures of international law...............................................................7
1.3.1 Introduction – a society of sovereign nation states.................................7
1.3.2 The international law of coexistence.......................................................7
1.3.3 The international law of cooperation......................................................7
1.4 The basis of international obligation.............................................................7
1.5 The relationship between international law and national law.......................8
1.6 The issue of enforcement of international law..............................................8
1.7 The alleged inadequacy of international law in the 21st century.................8
Hoofdstuk 2 Sources of international law............................................................10
2.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 10
2.2 Article 38 of the Statue of the International Court of Justice......................10
2.3 Conventions (treaties) as a legal source.....................................................11
2.4 Custom as a source of international law.....................................................11
2.4.1 Introduction..........................................................................................11
2.4.2 The objective element – state practice..................................................11
2.4.3 The subjective requirement – opinio juris.............................................12
2.4.4 The relationship between custom and treaty law.................................12
2.5 General principles as a source of law..........................................................12
2.6 Judicial decisions......................................................................................... 12
2.7 Scholarly contributions and the ILC............................................................13
2.8 Unilateral statements..................................................................................13
2.9 Hierarchy of sources...................................................................................13
2.10 Non-binding commitments and the concept op ‘soft law’ instruments.....14
Hoofdstuk 3 The law of treaties...........................................................................15
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 15
3.2 The treaty as a concept under international law.........................................15
3.3 The authority to conclude a treaty..............................................................15
PAGINA 1
, 3.4 Treaties between states and international organizations...........................15
3.5 Consent to be bound...................................................................................15
3.6 Entry into force – obligations in the interim period....................................16
3.7 Validity........................................................................................................ 16
3.8 Reservations................................................................................................17
3.9 Interpretation..............................................................................................18
3.10 Taking account of changes........................................................................18
3.11 Termination and withdrawal.....................................................................18
Hoofdstuk 4 The actors in the international legal system....................................19
4.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 19
4.2 The state..................................................................................................... 19
4.2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................19
4.2.2 Recognition........................................................................................... 19
4.2.3 The Montevideo criteria........................................................................20
4.2.4 Illegality in the creation of a ‘state’......................................................20
4.2.5 The right to self-determination.............................................................20
4.2.6 The acquisition of new territory............................................................21
4.2.7 State succession....................................................................................22
4.2.8 Extinction.............................................................................................. 22
4.3 International organizations.........................................................................22
4.4 Individuals................................................................................................... 23
4.5 Other actors in international law................................................................23
4.5.1 Territorial entities other than states.....................................................23
4.5.2 Groups of individuals............................................................................23
4.5.3 Private corporations..............................................................................23
4.5.4 Non-governmental organizations..........................................................23
4.5.5 Nature as a legal subject?.....................................................................24
Hoofdstuk 5 Jurisdiction.......................................................................................25
5.2 Jurisdiction to prescribe..............................................................................25
5.2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................25
5.2.2 Territorial jurisdiction...........................................................................25
5.2.3 Jurisdiction on the basis of nationality..................................................26
5.2.4 The passive personality principle..........................................................26
5.2.5 Protective jurisdiction...........................................................................26
5.2.6 Universal jurisdiction............................................................................27
5.2.7 Concurring/overlapping jurisdictions....................................................27
5.2.8 Jurisdiction over aircraft and ships.......................................................27
PAGINA 2
, 5.3 Jurisdiction to enforce.................................................................................28
Hoofdstuk 7 State responsibility..........................................................................29
7.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 29
7.2 The basic principles of state responsibility.................................................29
7.3 Attribution of conduct.................................................................................29
7.3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................29
7.3.2 Attribution for acts performed by the state and its organs...................29
7.3.3 Attribution for acts performed by organs exercising governmental
authority......................................................................................................... 30
7.3.4 Attribution for acts by organs ‘on loan’ from another state..................30
7.3.5 Responsibility for acts ultra vires.........................................................30
7.3.8 Responsibility for acts subsequently acknowledged and adopted........30
7.4 State responsibility in relation to acts of other states.................................30
7.5 Circumstances precluding wrongfulness....................................................31
7.1 Introduction............................................................................................. 31
7.5.2 Consent................................................................................................. 31
7.5.3 Self-defence..........................................................................................31
7.5.4 Lawful countermeasures.......................................................................31
7.5.5 Force majeure.......................................................................................32
7.5.6 Distress.................................................................................................32
7.5.7 Necessity............................................................................................... 32
7.5.8 Circumstances precluding wrongfulness and jus cogens......................32
7.6 Consequences of wrongful conduct.............................................................33
7.6.1 Introduction..........................................................................................33
7.6.2 The cessation of wrongful conduct.......................................................33
7.6.3 The duty to make reparation.................................................................33
7.6.4 Obligations of third states following breaches of jus cogens................33
7.7 Who may invoke a breach of international law?..........................................33
7.7.1 Introduction – the injured state.............................................................33
7.7.2 Obligations erga omnes........................................................................33
7.8 Diplomatic protection..................................................................................34
7.9 The international responsibility of international organizations..................35
Hoofdstuk 12 The peaceful settlement of disputes..............................................36
12.1 Introduction..............................................................................................36
12.2 Non-adjudicatory means of settling international disputes.......................36
12.3 Arbitration.................................................................................................37
12.4 The international Court of Justice.............................................................37
PAGINA 3
