International Law

Diplomatic and Consular Relations Diplomatic and consular relations are among the oldest and most important institutions of international law. They provide the legal framework through which states communicate with one another, maintain permanent missions abroad, protect their interests and nationals, negotiate agreements, and manage practical relations across national borders. Although Read more

Recognition of States and Governments Recognition of states and governments is one of the most important and sometimes misunderstood concepts in international law. It concerns the circumstances in which one state accepts another entity as a state and accepts a particular authority as the government capable of representing that state Read more

International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and the world’s principal court for resolving legal disputes between states. Located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the Court plays a central role in the peaceful settlement of Read more

International Dispute Resolution International law governs relationships among states and other international actors, but legal rules alone cannot prevent disagreements. States may disagree about the interpretation of a treaty, the location of a border, responsibility for environmental harm, the use of force, trade obligations, maritime rights, diplomatic relations, investment protections, Read more

Treaty Breach and Termination Treaties create binding international obligations, but international agreements do not necessarily remain unchanged forever. A state may fail to perform a treaty obligation, circumstances may make performance temporarily impossible, or the parties may decide that the treaty should come to an end. International law therefore provides Read more

Treaty Interpretation Treaties create international legal obligations, but the existence of an obligation does not always answer the more difficult question: What exactly does the obligation mean? Treaty interpretation is the process of determining the meaning and legal effect of the words used in an international agreement. It becomes especially Read more

Treaty Formation and Ratification Treaties are among the most important instruments through which states create legal obligations under international law. They may establish peace, regulate trade, protect human rights, define borders, govern international organizations, regulate the use of the oceans, address environmental problems, or establish rules for cooperation in areas Read more

State Immunity State immunity is a principle of international law under which one state is generally protected from the jurisdiction of the courts of another state. It reflects the fundamental principle that sovereign states are legally equal and that one sovereign should not ordinarily exercise judicial authority over another without Read more

Diplomatic Immunity Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law that protects diplomats and certain members of diplomatic missions from particular forms of jurisdiction and enforcement by the state in which they are serving. It is one of the oldest and most important mechanisms through which international law facilitates peaceful Read more