International Bachelor of LAW Program 2019 – 2020
Law of International
Course Notes by 18024580 Page 1 of 31
Organizations
Course Notes
Lecture 1: Introduction
▪ State Sovereignty
Art 2(1) UN Charter (UNC): all states are equal and sovereign.
Sovereignty is the ultimate power to exercise authority within the territory.
External sovereignty: the possibility for a state to exercise control over its population and territory without
interference from outside.
Internal sovereignty: the original source of public authority within the state itself e.g. 1648 Peace of Westphalia
Popular sovereignty: to derive the claim to authority from having been enacted by the people i.e.
philosophical/ moral claim to sovereignty
Globalisation
All global threats have cross-border aspects. This results in shared risks and opportunities; thus, it is
obliged for the response on those risks and opportunities to be concerned.
Raison d’etre of IOs
Institutionalization of inter-state cooperation by offering more platform to states and other stakeholders
incl. civil society.
United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. It addressed the global challenges
we face, incl. those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace
and justice. The 17 Goals are all interconnected and aimed to be achieved by 2030.
▪ International Organization (IO)
‘An organization established by a treaty or other instrument governed by international law and
possessing its own international legal personalities, e.g. UN, the World Health Organization (WHO) and
NATO.’.
History Development
1. End of Middle Ages
Bilateral relations on the basis of individual exchange of envoys via diplomatic missions. With the
establishment of the modern state, the custom developed to station permanent representatives at
foreign capitals. These relations proved inadequate to address growing international relations which
led to international conferences.
2. Ad hoc international conferences organized
The purpose of such conferences was to make a halt of the Thirty-Year War of Europe and establish
the new system.
1648 Peace of Westphalia
This emanated from such conferences.
Before: diplomatic relations existed.
After: permanent representatives for diplomatic inter-state relationships.
1815 Vienna Congress
This international conference re-established Westphalian order after the defeat of Napoleon. The
‘collective security’ was the first attempt to gather more regularly since it was a recognized need.
Law of International
Course Notes by 18024580 Page 1 of 31
Organizations
Course Notes
Lecture 1: Introduction
▪ State Sovereignty
Art 2(1) UN Charter (UNC): all states are equal and sovereign.
Sovereignty is the ultimate power to exercise authority within the territory.
External sovereignty: the possibility for a state to exercise control over its population and territory without
interference from outside.
Internal sovereignty: the original source of public authority within the state itself e.g. 1648 Peace of Westphalia
Popular sovereignty: to derive the claim to authority from having been enacted by the people i.e.
philosophical/ moral claim to sovereignty
Globalisation
All global threats have cross-border aspects. This results in shared risks and opportunities; thus, it is
obliged for the response on those risks and opportunities to be concerned.
Raison d’etre of IOs
Institutionalization of inter-state cooperation by offering more platform to states and other stakeholders
incl. civil society.
United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. It addressed the global challenges
we face, incl. those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace
and justice. The 17 Goals are all interconnected and aimed to be achieved by 2030.
▪ International Organization (IO)
‘An organization established by a treaty or other instrument governed by international law and
possessing its own international legal personalities, e.g. UN, the World Health Organization (WHO) and
NATO.’.
History Development
1. End of Middle Ages
Bilateral relations on the basis of individual exchange of envoys via diplomatic missions. With the
establishment of the modern state, the custom developed to station permanent representatives at
foreign capitals. These relations proved inadequate to address growing international relations which
led to international conferences.
2. Ad hoc international conferences organized
The purpose of such conferences was to make a halt of the Thirty-Year War of Europe and establish
the new system.
1648 Peace of Westphalia
This emanated from such conferences.
Before: diplomatic relations existed.
After: permanent representatives for diplomatic inter-state relationships.
1815 Vienna Congress
This international conference re-established Westphalian order after the defeat of Napoleon. The
‘collective security’ was the first attempt to gather more regularly since it was a recognized need.
