UNISA
LCP4801 – INTERNATIONAL LAW
TEXTBOOK SUMMARIES
2025
1
,Part I – Inter-State Relations: Origins, Development and International Law-
Making
Chapter 1: Defining Epochs (Strydom & Gevers)
• Traces the historical evolution of international law from 1500–present.
• Covers the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and emergence of state sovereignty.
• Analyses colonialism, the League of Nations, and the United Nations
system.
• Discusses the Cold War, decolonisation, and post–Cold War
developments.
• Critical reflection on how colonial expansion shaped international law.
Chapter 2: Statehood and Recognition (Strydom & Gevers)
• Explains the criteria for statehood (Montevideo Convention: population,
territory, government, capacity for relations).
• Examines recognition theories – constitutive vs declaratory.
• Discusses self-determination and decolonisation.
• Reviews UN membership, suspension, and expulsion.
• Analyses contemporary debates (e.g., Kosovo, Palestine, South Sudan).
Chapter 3: International Law-Making as an Attribute of State Sovereignty
(Strydom)
• Reviews the sources of international law: treaties, custom, general
principles.
• Explains treaty law (formation, reservations, interpretation, termination).
• Introduces customary international law and persistent objector rule.
• Discusses jus cogens norms, erga omnes obligations, and hierarchy of
norms.
• Examines informal law-making (resolutions, declarations, soft law).
Part II – Foundational Principles and Enforcement of International Law
Chapter 4: The Fundamental Principles of the International Legal Order
(Strydom & Juma)
• Core principles: sovereign equality, non-use of force, good faith, peaceful
settlement of disputes.
2
, • Explains state responsibility (based on ILC’s Articles on State Responsibility,
2001).
• Covers wrongfulness, attribution, and forms of reparation (restitution,
compensation, satisfaction).
• Discusses responsibility of international organisations.
Chapter 5: Maintaining International Peace and Security (Strydom & Juma)
• Reviews the UN Charter system, Security Council powers, and collective
security.
• Explains peaceful dispute settlement (negotiation, mediation, arbitration,
ICJ).
• Analyses use of force, humanitarian intervention, and Responsibility to
Protect (R2P).
Part III – Jurisdiction and Control Over Territory and Persons
Chapter 6: Jurisdiction of States (Gevers & Vrancken)
• Explains territorial, nationality, protective, effects, and universal
jurisdiction.
• Discusses immunities (personal and functional) and international crimes.
• Reviews special regimes: law of the sea, Antarctic law, space law.
• Integrates South African jurisdictional principles.
Chapter 7: Treatment of Aliens (Strydom)
• Covers international minimum standards of treatment.
• Analyses denial of justice, expulsion, and investment protection.
• Explains consular protection and diplomatic channels.
Chapter 8: Extradition and Deportation (Kemp)
• Distinguishes extradition from deportation.
• Discusses South African extradition law, treaties, and procedures.
• Key principles: double criminality, non-refoulement, political offence
exception.
• Includes human rights considerations in extradition.
Chapter 9: Refugees (Strydom)
• Reviews 1951 Refugee Convention and 1969 OAU Refugee Convention.
3
, • Core elements: well-founded fear, grounds for persecution, non-
refoulement.
• Covers refugee rights, freedom of movement, prohibition of expulsion.
• Discusses South African Refugees Act 130 of 1998.
Chapter 10: Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities (Strydom)
• Explains Vienna Conventions of 1961 (Diplomatic Relations) and 1963
(Consular Relations).
• Topics: consent, inviolability of premises, immunities, and waiver.
• Discusses UN and specialised agencies’ immunities.
Part IV – The International Law of Human Security
Chapter 11: International Protection of Human Rights (Viljoen)
• Reviews the evolution of international human rights law.
• Differentiates UN Charter-based and treaty-based systems.
• Examines individual complaints, state reporting, and inquiries.
• Analyses regional systems (African, Inter-American, European).
• Notes influence of South African constitutional jurisprudence on socio-
economic rights.
Chapter 12: International Humanitarian Law (Juma)
• Covers laws of armed conflict – distinction, proportionality, necessity.
• Explains Geneva Conventions (1949) and Additional Protocols (1977).
• Discusses combatant status, prisoners of war, protection of civilians, and
non-international conflicts.
Chapter 13: International Criminal Law (Gevers & Kemp)
• Explains core crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes,
aggression.
• Analyses Rome Statute of the ICC and principle of complementarity.
• Reviews South Africa’s ICC Act 27 of 2002 and Implementation of the
Geneva Conventions Act 8 of 2012.
• Discusses immunities, universal jurisdiction, and domestic prosecutions.
Chapter 14: International Trade and Sustainable Development (Ruppel &
Scholtz)
4
LCP4801 – INTERNATIONAL LAW
TEXTBOOK SUMMARIES
2025
1
,Part I – Inter-State Relations: Origins, Development and International Law-
Making
Chapter 1: Defining Epochs (Strydom & Gevers)
• Traces the historical evolution of international law from 1500–present.
• Covers the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and emergence of state sovereignty.
• Analyses colonialism, the League of Nations, and the United Nations
system.
• Discusses the Cold War, decolonisation, and post–Cold War
developments.
• Critical reflection on how colonial expansion shaped international law.
Chapter 2: Statehood and Recognition (Strydom & Gevers)
• Explains the criteria for statehood (Montevideo Convention: population,
territory, government, capacity for relations).
• Examines recognition theories – constitutive vs declaratory.
• Discusses self-determination and decolonisation.
• Reviews UN membership, suspension, and expulsion.
• Analyses contemporary debates (e.g., Kosovo, Palestine, South Sudan).
Chapter 3: International Law-Making as an Attribute of State Sovereignty
(Strydom)
• Reviews the sources of international law: treaties, custom, general
principles.
• Explains treaty law (formation, reservations, interpretation, termination).
• Introduces customary international law and persistent objector rule.
• Discusses jus cogens norms, erga omnes obligations, and hierarchy of
norms.
• Examines informal law-making (resolutions, declarations, soft law).
Part II – Foundational Principles and Enforcement of International Law
Chapter 4: The Fundamental Principles of the International Legal Order
(Strydom & Juma)
• Core principles: sovereign equality, non-use of force, good faith, peaceful
settlement of disputes.
2
, • Explains state responsibility (based on ILC’s Articles on State Responsibility,
2001).
• Covers wrongfulness, attribution, and forms of reparation (restitution,
compensation, satisfaction).
• Discusses responsibility of international organisations.
Chapter 5: Maintaining International Peace and Security (Strydom & Juma)
• Reviews the UN Charter system, Security Council powers, and collective
security.
• Explains peaceful dispute settlement (negotiation, mediation, arbitration,
ICJ).
• Analyses use of force, humanitarian intervention, and Responsibility to
Protect (R2P).
Part III – Jurisdiction and Control Over Territory and Persons
Chapter 6: Jurisdiction of States (Gevers & Vrancken)
• Explains territorial, nationality, protective, effects, and universal
jurisdiction.
• Discusses immunities (personal and functional) and international crimes.
• Reviews special regimes: law of the sea, Antarctic law, space law.
• Integrates South African jurisdictional principles.
Chapter 7: Treatment of Aliens (Strydom)
• Covers international minimum standards of treatment.
• Analyses denial of justice, expulsion, and investment protection.
• Explains consular protection and diplomatic channels.
Chapter 8: Extradition and Deportation (Kemp)
• Distinguishes extradition from deportation.
• Discusses South African extradition law, treaties, and procedures.
• Key principles: double criminality, non-refoulement, political offence
exception.
• Includes human rights considerations in extradition.
Chapter 9: Refugees (Strydom)
• Reviews 1951 Refugee Convention and 1969 OAU Refugee Convention.
3
, • Core elements: well-founded fear, grounds for persecution, non-
refoulement.
• Covers refugee rights, freedom of movement, prohibition of expulsion.
• Discusses South African Refugees Act 130 of 1998.
Chapter 10: Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities (Strydom)
• Explains Vienna Conventions of 1961 (Diplomatic Relations) and 1963
(Consular Relations).
• Topics: consent, inviolability of premises, immunities, and waiver.
• Discusses UN and specialised agencies’ immunities.
Part IV – The International Law of Human Security
Chapter 11: International Protection of Human Rights (Viljoen)
• Reviews the evolution of international human rights law.
• Differentiates UN Charter-based and treaty-based systems.
• Examines individual complaints, state reporting, and inquiries.
• Analyses regional systems (African, Inter-American, European).
• Notes influence of South African constitutional jurisprudence on socio-
economic rights.
Chapter 12: International Humanitarian Law (Juma)
• Covers laws of armed conflict – distinction, proportionality, necessity.
• Explains Geneva Conventions (1949) and Additional Protocols (1977).
• Discusses combatant status, prisoners of war, protection of civilians, and
non-international conflicts.
Chapter 13: International Criminal Law (Gevers & Kemp)
• Explains core crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes,
aggression.
• Analyses Rome Statute of the ICC and principle of complementarity.
• Reviews South Africa’s ICC Act 27 of 2002 and Implementation of the
Geneva Conventions Act 8 of 2012.
• Discusses immunities, universal jurisdiction, and domestic prosecutions.
Chapter 14: International Trade and Sustainable Development (Ruppel &
Scholtz)
4
