Peacetime Unilateral Remedies An Analysis Of Countermeasures

Published under the Transnational Publishers imprint.

Published under the Transnational Publishers imprint.

Note on sources and style

Material breach of a treaty gives a right to the aggrieved party to suspend or terminate it. This book traces the origins and evolution of the concept of material breach and responses thereto. It undertakes a content analysis thereof, thus clarifying the practical legal problems involved. The effects of breach of treaty are also examined. This book highlights the rules relating to application of the principle of termination or suspension of treaties for material breach in terms of limitations and conditions of their application, consequences, and the course and procedures for termination or suspension. Finally, competence to determine the existence of material breach is examined. The book addresses the settlement of disputes arising from claims of termination or suspension for breach. This work will be of interest to scholars as well as diplomats and practitioners of international law.

The first part of this book deals with the general principles relating to international disputes settlement. It starts by looking at the nature of an international dispute in contemporary international law, and by discussing the principles governing the ascertainment of the existence of an international dispute. It then moves on to a consideration of the diplomatic means of an international dispute settlement. The book not only focuses on the peaceful means, but also considers other means, in particular countermeasures. A separate chapter is devoted to the International Court of Justice, enabling in-depth treatment of the issues. The book critically analyses the cases in which Australia and New Zealand have been involved, first as applicants, and then as respondents, thereby assessing the contributions made by these two countries to the development of the law relating to international disputes settlement.

Until recently, the fundamental link between two basic concepts in international law, namely the right to self-help and the obligation to settle disputes by peaceful means, has been neglected in doctrine and practice. The main issue is that international law traditionally recognizes the right of states to safeguard their own rights by resorting to countermeasures as well as the obligation to settle their disputes by accepted and recognized diplomatic and judicial procedures. Both concepts are based on their own merits, which are assumed to be valid in contemporary international law. It is the primary purpose of this study to determine which rules and principles govern the relationship between the two concepts. The book's major findings arise from an analysis of scholarly work, supported by examples from five different case studies. Drawing insights from legal as well as political science, it will be a valuable resource for students, academics and policy makers in international law, international relations and related areas.

This is the first book that explores whether there are any rules in international law applicable to unilateral sanctions and if so, what they are. The book examines both the lawfulness of unilateral sanctions and the limitations within which they should operate. In doing so, it includes an analysis of State practice, the provisions of various international legal instruments dealing with such sanctions and their impact on other areas of international law such as freedom of navigation, aviation and transit, and the principles of international trade, investment, regional economic integration, and the protection of human rights and the environment. This study finds that unilateral sanctions by a state or a group of states against another state as opposed to 'smart' or targeted sanctions of limited scope would be unlawful, unless they meet the procedural and substantive requirements stipulated in international law. Importantly, the book identifies and consolidates these requirements scattered in different areas of international law, including the additional rules of customary international law that have emerged out of the recent practice of States and that increase the limitations on the use of unilateral sanctions.