Lecture 8 - International Legal Personality Flashcards
In every legal system, certain entities are considered as possessing “rights” and “duties” enforceable at law
Eg: an individual may prosecute or may be prosecuted for assault.
A company can sue for breach of a contract
Law recognizes these actors as “legal persons” - capacity to have and maintain certain rights + capacity to perform specific duties.
In domestic law, individuals, companies, institutions, associations, foundations - each possesses distinct legal ______
In every legal system, certain entities are considered as possessing “rights” and “duties” enforceable at law
Eg: an individual may prosecute or may be prosecuted for assault.
A company can sue for breach of a contract
Law recognizes these actors as “legal persons” - capacity to have and maintain certain rights + capacity to perform specific duties.
In domestic law, individuals, companies, institutions, associations, foundations - each possesses distinct legal personality
International Legal Personality is participation plus some community acceptance.
There are different criteria in determining subjects/persons of international law:
1- Capacity to enjoy ____ deriving from int law (customary rules) - both individuals, states, int org.
2- Capacity to make legal ________ at int law level -treaties, states & int org.
3- Capacity to invoke ________ of others at international level - both individuals, states, int org.
4- Capacity to be held _____ (responsible) for its acts at international level - both individuals (int criminal responsibility), states, int org.
5- Capacity to ask diplomatic ______ for its representatives - both states and int org.
International Legal Personality is participation plus some community acceptance.
There are different criteria in determining subjects/persons of international law:
1- Capacity to enjoy rights deriving from int law (customary rules) - both individuals, states, int org.
2- Capacity to make legal transactions at int law level -treaties, states & int org.
3- Capacity to invoke responsibility of others at international level - both individuals, states, int org.
4- Capacity to be held liable (responsible) for its acts at international level - both individuals (int criminal responsibility), states, int org.
5- Capacity to ask diplomatic immunities for its representatives - both states and int org.
The definition of International Legal Personality:
The possession of international rights and duties as well as the procedural ______ to seek ______ for alleged violations and be held accountable for non-fulfillment of duties.
The definition of International Legal Personality:
The possession of international rights and duties as well as the procedural capacity to seek redress for alleged violations and be held accountable for non-fulfillment of duties.
States and int org. have int legal personality while individuals have _______ international legal personality (passive/subjects) - passive in the sense of determining rules of int law.
In a broader sense international legal personality refers to the rights and duties held be entities under international law.
A fundamental debate within international law is from the source from which non-state entities hold substantive rights and duties, including the legal capacity to assert same.
States and int org. have int legal personality while individuals have limited international legal personality (passive/subjects) - passive in the sense of determining rules of int law.
In a broader sense international legal personality refers to the rights and duties held be entities under international law.
A fundamental debate within international law is from the source from which non-state entities hold substantive rights and duties, including the legal capacity to assert same.
There are 3 Approaches to International Legal Personality:
- The Legal ______ Approach;
- The Factualist ____ Approach; and
- The Dynamic _____ Approach.
There are 3 Approaches to International Legal Personality:
- The Legal Traditionalist Approach;
- The Factualist Realist Approach; and
- The Dynamic State Approach.
The ______________ Approach:
Tends to approach international legal personality for new, international, non-state, political, identities from the position that sovereign states have primacy over all other entities as actors.
Why? Because States are the ultimate source of rights, duties, privileges and immunities under traditional international law as “the repositories of legitimated authority over peoples and territories“.
International legal personality is derived from States to non-state actors through a legal instrument, general principle of law, or rule of customary international law.
In the absence of such a transfer, non-state entities or actors do not have any legal standing or capacity. To do otherwise would be to bind States without their consent.
The Legal Traditionalist Approach:
Tends to approach international legal personality for new, international, non-state, political, identities from the position that sovereign states have primacy over all other entities as actors.
Why? Because States are the ultimate source of rights, duties, privileges and immunities under traditional international law as “the repositories of legitimated authority over peoples and territories“.
International legal personality is derived from States to non-state actors through a legal instrument, general principle of law, or rule of customary international law.
In the absence of such a transfer, non-state entities or actors do not have any legal standing or capacity. To do otherwise would be to bind States without their consent.
The _____________ Approach:
Asserts, as a matter of fact, that the state is irretrievably in decline and that new non-state entities are increasing in number and influence in international relations. Those facts, in turn, require complementary and fundamental changes in the legal source of international legal personality under international law.
Proposes two alternative structures to the status quo.
-First, a monistic international global entity like a unitary global super state.
-Second, a non-territorially based more fluid global system in which states are dominated by a world wide web of international organizations, public and private interest groups, corporations, and subnational governments operating through interconnected economic, financial, and political relationships.
The Factual Realist Approach:
Asserts, as a matter of fact, that the state is irretrievably in decline and that new non-state entities are increasing in number and influence in international relations. Those facts, in turn, require complementary and fundamental changes in the legal source of international legal personality under international law.
Proposes two alternative structures to the status quo.
-First, a monistic international global entity like a unitary global super state.
-Second, a non-territorially based more fluid global system in which states are dominated by a world wide web of international organizations, public and private interest groups, corporations, and subnational governments operating through interconnected economic, financial, and political relationships.
- Points to the increasing movement mad mobility of humans, the growing acceptance of dual or multiple nationalities and the emergency of non-territorial international markets (i.e. the Internet).
- Argues that populations rely less on the state and more on non-state entities to represent their interests such as NGOs, corporations (national and multinational), subnational governments, joint ventures, and other international political identities.
- Threshold for legal capacity and standing is the ability to influence and shape the content and application of international law as demonstrated factually.
- Doesn’t rely on the permission of States.
- Critics argue that changes in factual circumstances cannot by themselves justify the creation of a whole new concept of international legal personality.
The ____________ Approach:
- A middle ground between the traditionalist and realist views.
- Suggests that they assume a static, rigid body of international law. The theories clash in whether that should be preserved or ignored.
- Dynamic State Theorists propose a more fluid and accommodating relationship between international law and international facts. The State is a dynamic and resilient entity that is increasingly responsible to changes in the political landscape [see, the creation of 29 new states in the immediate wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union].
- Argues that States have responded satisfactorily to changes in international facts through:
- a move away from absolutist notions of state sovereignty to onwhich accepts popular sovereignty;
- directly and impliedly conferring on a growing number of international and regional organizations and agencies the competence necessary to address an impressive array of international problems including peace-keeping, health, food, global finances, global and regional environments, human rights, and energy.
- The facilitation of new international political identities in international law fora (non-voting participation or observer status).
- Insists, however, that new international political identities to claim international legal personality must be able to point to some international law treaty, custom, or general principle of law.
- To do otherwise would remove the State as the ultimate source of international legal personality.
The Dynamic State Approach:
- A middle ground between the traditionalist and realist views.
- Suggests that they assume a static, rigid body of international law. The theories clash in whether that should be preserved or ignored.
- Dynamic State Theorists propose a more fluid and accommodating relationship between international law and international facts. The State is a dynamic and resilient entity that is increasingly responsible to changes in the political landscape [see, the creation of 29 new states in the immediate wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union].
- Argues that States have responded satisfactorily to changes in international facts through:
- a move away from absolutist notions of state sovereignty to onwhich accepts popular sovereignty;
- directly and impliedly conferring on a growing number of international and regional organizations and agencies the competence necessary to address an impressive array of international problems including peace-keeping, health, food, global finances, global and regional environments, human rights, and energy.
- The facilitation of new international political identities in international law fora (non-voting participation or observer status).
- Insists, however, that new international political identities to claim international legal personality must be able to point to some international law treaty, custom, or general principle of law.
- To do otherwise would remove the State as the ultimate source of international legal personality.
Subjects of International Law:
Person/entity capable of possessing international rights and duties, and having ______ to maintain its rights by bringing international claims.
Subjects of International Law:
Person/entity capable of possessing international rights and duties, and having capacity to maintain its rights by bringing international claims.
Capacity to Bring International Claims:
Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (1949)
Facts of the case:
- Swedish diplomat Folke Bernadotte
- Mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1947-1948
- Assassinated in _______ in 1948 by terrorists
Question to be answered by the court: ‘In the event of an agent of the United Nations in the performance of his duties suffering injury in circumstances involving the responsibility of a State, has the United Nations, as an Organization, the capacity to bring an international claim against the responsible de jure or de facto government with a view to obtaining the reparation due in respect of the damage caused (a) to the United Nations, (b) to the ______ or to persons entitled through him?’
Capacity to Bring International Claims:
Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (1949)
Facts of the case:
- Swedish diplomat Folke Bernadotte
- Mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1947-1948
- Assassinated in Jerusalem in 1948 by terrorists
Question to be answered by the court: ‘In the event of an agent of the United Nations in the performance of his duties suffering injury in circumstances involving the responsibility of a State, has the United Nations, as an Organization, the capacity to bring an international claim against the responsible de jure or de facto government with a view to obtaining the reparation due in respect of the damage caused (a) to the United Nations, (b) to the victim or to persons entitled through him?’
Montevideo Convention:
State is a legally defined entity. Modern international law sets out four basic criteria for a state:
- A permanent ____
- A defined _____
- A government
- A _____ to enter into ____ with other states
Montevideo Convention:
State is a legally defined entity. Modern international law sets out four basic criteria for a state:
- A permanent population
- A defined territory
- A government
- A capacity to enter into relations with other states
Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (1949) ICJ:
“Competence to bring an international claim is… the capacity to resort to the ________ methods recognised by international for the establishment, the preservation and the settlement _____.”
Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (1949) ICJ:
“Competence to bring an international claim is… the capacity to resort to the customary methods recognised by international for the establishment, the preservation and the settlement claims.”
Capacity to Enter into Legal Relations with other subjects of International Law -
Partial Capacity: subjects who, to the extent and limitations of their capability, are depending on themselves when they enter into legal relations under international law.
Particular Capacity: subjects of international law which only enjoy the capacity to enter into legal relations with legal to certain other subjects of _________ law.
Capacity to Enter into Legal Relations with other subjects of International Law -
Partial Capacity: subjects who, to the extent and limitations of their capability, are depending on themselves when they enter into legal relations under international law.
Particular Capacity: subjects of international law which only enjoy the capacity to enter into legal relations with legal to certain other subjects of international law.
Definition of International Organisation -
“A collectivity of states established by treaty, with a constitution and common organs, having a personality distinct from that of its member-states and being a subject of international law with ____-making capacity”
“An entity which has been set up by means of a treaty concluded by states to engage in co-operation in a particular field and which has its own organs that are responsible for engaging in independent activities”
Definition of International Organisation -
“A collectivity of states established by treaty, with a constitution and common organs, having a personality distinct from that of its member-states and being a subject of international law with treaty-making capacity”
“An entity which has been set up by means of a treaty concluded by states to engage in co-operation in a particular field and which has its own organs that are responsible for engaging in independent activities”
Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (1949).
A series of tragic incidents directed against United Nations personnel in Palestine that culminated in the assassination, on 17 September 1948, of Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden, the UN mediator in the Palestine conflict, and of Colonel André Sérot, a French UN observer.
These murders were attributed to a group of Israeli extremists—the ____ Group—whose members had so far failed to be arrested and prosecuted by the Israeli authorities
At the request of the UN Secretary-General, the UN General Assembly addressed several legal questions to the ICJ in order to assert the capacity of the organization to bring claims for reparations due in respect of damages caused to itself and to its agents, and to elucidate the conditions governing the presentation of such claims, be they directed against a Member or a non-Member State [1948].
The assassination took place after Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948 but before it was admitted to the UN on 11 May 1949. The advisory opinion was delivered on 11 April 1949.
“…the Organisation is an international person. That is not the same thing as saying that it is a State…or that its legal personality and rights and duties are the same as those of a State… It is a subject of international law and capable of possessing international rights and duties, and it has capacity to maintain its rights by bringing international claims.”
Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (1949).
A series of tragic incidents directed against United Nations personnel in Palestine that culminated in the assassination, on 17 September 1948, of Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden, the UN mediator in the Palestine conflict, and of Colonel André Sérot, a French UN observer.
These murders were attributed to a group of Israeli extremists—the Stern Group—whose members had so far failed to be arrested and prosecuted by the Israeli authorities
At the request of the UN Secretary-General, the UN General Assembly addressed several legal questions to the ICJ in order to assert the capacity of the organization to bring claims for reparations due in respect of damages caused to itself and to its agents, and to elucidate the conditions governing the presentation of such claims, be they directed against a Member or a non-Member State [1948].
The assassination took place after Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948 but before it was admitted to the UN on 11 May 1949. The advisory opinion was delivered on 11 April 1949.
“…the Organisation is an international person. That is not the same thing as saying that it is a State…or that its legal personality and rights and duties are the same as those of a State… It is a subject of international law and capable of possessing international rights and duties, and it has capacity to maintain its rights by bringing international claims.”