The International Law Of State Responsibility

This highly readable book examines the law of State responsibility, presenting it as a fundamental aspect of public international law. Covering the key aspects of the topic, it combines a clear overview with use of specific case studies in order to provide a deeper understanding.

"Covering the key aspects of the topic [of public international law], [this book] combines an...overview with use of specific case studies in order to provide a deeper understanding. The...chapters are organized into two parts. Part one provides a structural overview of the law, with up-to-date coverage of practice and case law reflecting the key international law reports. Part two offers specific case studies, asking probing questions in order to explore how the international legal order deals with breaches of its norms and what rights and faculties are accorded to the aggrieved state."--

In the wake of the adoption by the International Law Commission of a complete set of articles on state responsibility in international law in 2001, this collection assembles a number of essays tracing key debates which have marked the evolution of this field over the last fifty years. These include explorations of the general theory of state responsibility (link between ’primary’ and ’secondary’ rules, the place of due diligence, the link between liability and wrongfulness), the consequences of an internationally wrongful act (nature of remedies, suitability of countermeasures, third states and the shift from bilateralism to community interests in the law of state responsibility), the debate over criminalizing state responsibility, and the continuing relevance of the law of injuries to aliens. The collection also contains a series of essays offering critical perspectives on state responsibility, including feminist and developing world perspectives. It is completed by an extensive and up-to-date bibliography.

The book analyzes State responsibility in international law from a holistic and critical perspective.

Note on sources and style

This volume contains a consolidated reproduction of Part One (articles 1 to 35) of the Draft Article on State Responsibility and their important Commentaries, prepared by the International Law Commission in the period ending in 1980. These articles deal with the origin of international responsibility, including general principles, the act of State, breach of an international obligation, and circumstances precluding wrongfulness. They were drawn up on the basis of eight reports submitted by the Special Rapporteur, Professor, now Judge Roberto Ago. An introduction written by Shabtai Rosenne traces the history of the official codification of the topic of State Responsibility since the League of Nations first broached the matter in 1924. State Responsibility is central to the daily practice of international law, and its systematic treatment is central to the codification process. The International Law Commission is continuing work on the topic. In the meantime, the articles of Part One, now concentrated for the first time in a single volume, are the major starting point for this work. This volume will be of great value to practitioners, teachers and students of international law. Shabtai Rosenne was a member of the International Law Commission from 1962 to 1971, when the basic decisions regarding the approach to the current phase of the work were taken.

The law of international responsibility is one of international law's core foundational topics. Written by international experts, this book provides an overview of the modern law of international responsibility, both as it applies to states and to international organizations, with a focus on the ILC's work.

Analysis of the 2015 Resolution adopted by the Institute of International Law on state succession in matters of state responsibility.