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Rechtsgeleerdheid
Public International Law
Lecture: 1 Foundations and structure of international law
Foundations and structure of international law
Subjects: the persons whom international law is applied upon, legal enthesis, states are
bound by international law.
Jurisdiction & immunity: jurisdiction, de macht hebben om beslissingen2(prosicute) te
maken over een legal topic in internationaal law. Immunity, benefits in regards of people who
have a certain international power who commit a crime.
International Disputes settlement: where and how do states settle problems between
different states. Do they go to court?
Use of force: who do these states use force
Basics of international law: history
A field of law that has developed over the years. It is as old as the Pre-Greek civilsations.
Relationship between national & international law
Domestic law/national: rules between states and citizens, the central authority makes
these laws, whether the populations consents or not.
International law: no rules about interaction between states but it is to regulate
relationships with one and other for example trading affairs, in case of disputes you need to
follow international law. There is no concentrated source of authority.
Monism
A single and coherent legal system
International law is directly applied in national law
Dualisme
Two separate legal systems that operate independently, de international laws must be
adopted into national law.
Pluralism
Relationship between two systems that is more complex and divers.
The structure of international law
Coexistence: we all co exist in the same world, many toppics interests multiple nations.
Climate change, prohibit use of force
Cooperation: we need to cooperate, to benefit eachother, traveling, ingrediants, international
crimes.
How does international law work
Sovereignty and consent
Sovereignty: States have supreme power, over their territory and may not be subject to
the jurisdiction of other states.
Consent: states must consent to be bound by international law and rules
Reflected in the fabric of IL
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I. Sources
II. Jurisdiction
III. immunities
The implementation of IL
Critique: international law cannot be enforced, there are no framework no police force
etc. States will act in their best interest regardless of the rules.
Why do states obey IL
I. Desire for order and predictability over chaos, people want order and not chaos.
II. Consent, sovereign equality of states
III. Legitimacy, who would join us in a war against iran?
IV. Enforcement mechanism, als jij iets bij ons doet doen wij het bij jou
Enforcement of IL
I. International organisaties
II. International courts and tribunals
III. Counter measures
Domestic Law and international law (vertical relationship)
1. Seperation of powers: triaspolitica
There are 3 organs ( The division of a state government)
each with separate powers and responsibility’s
1. The judiciary: judges
2. The law-making power: parament
3. De executive power: government
International law (horizontal relationship)
1. The laws are made by mutual consent of nations
2. Enforcement of the law: the states them self, no world government or
concentrated source of authority
3. Judicial system: the states gives there consent to prosecute
Monism
A single and coherent legal system
International law is directly applied in national law
Hendrixen p.14: international law under monism form a single legal order. It can be
applied directly on Dutch cases. In case of a conflict the international right is superior
Nadeel: the states are les independent
Dualism
Two separate legal systems that operate independently, de international laws must be
adopted into national law. It has to be transformed in order to became effective in the
Dutch constitution, it also has to be reginized. In case of a conflict between national law and
international, the international law steps aside.
Nadeel: the process of impaling new laws takes a long time and it is difficult.
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• The main difference: the direct effect of international laws, and the superior law.
• The consetutaion (grondwet) decides if a state is monist or dualist
Dutch court applies Dutch law and international laws, thru article 93 and 94. It is still
partly monist because the Dutch court may declair that the Dutch law is not applied,
only if the international law is binding, mensenrechten bv, folterverbod.
(Internationaal recht heft voorrang op nationaal recht, wanneer het niet meer hoeft te
worden aangepast)
A treaty must be completely clear, whiteout any additions if not it cannot be implaid in
national law.
Lawbooks PIL summary week 1
National law: The national law of sovereign state is adequate to regulate the vast
majority of legal disputes that merely involve the relationship between citizens of a
sovereign state or between the citizens and a state. National law is not suited in a
situation where the interests of more than one state collide.
How do 2 interests collide
1. A legal matter becomes an issue for international law due to its content and
coexistence.
2. States agree in a threaty, the form of the issue becomes international relevant.
This situation is governed by international law of cooperation.
Cooperation
1. Contains the legal answers to issues that have been turned into a international
matter, by adoption of a threaty
2. It is younger than coexsistence
3. It is optional: states decide for them selves if they want to adopt in a threaty
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Coexcitence
1. Contains the answers to separate powers of the states
2. It has a horizontal sense, concerning in which matter states interact between each
other
3. It seeks to ensure that states can pursue their separate interests in a way that still
respects other states.
Why is a State bound to international law
1. Natural law: states are bound because nature requires a certain behavior of
states
2. Posivitism: states are bound through consent, a treaty.
International and National Law
1. International law has a supremacy over national law
2. The manner in which international law is applied in national systems:
• Monism: monism international law and national law form a single legal
order. International law can directly be applied.
• Dualism: international and national law have two separate legal systems,
they operate independently. International law has only applied in domestic
law when it is translated into the national legal system.
Enforcement of international law
1. International law does not have acces to police force or a mandatory judicial
system.
2. ICJ, international court of justice
3. States are free in a way to act upon legal issues
Public International law
Lecture: 2 Sources of international law
Where do we find sources of international Law
1. The Statute of the international court of justice
Article 38 ICJ Statute
a. International conventions (treaty’s)
b. International Custom, evidence of a general practice accepted as law
c. The general principles, law recognized by civilized nations
d. Judicial decisions: invullingen van wetten, rechten en obligaties
International conventions, treaties
2. What are treaties
Vienna convention on the law of treaties, 1969: a treaty about the definition and rules
of treaties. Conventrates on the form, formalities and rules of treaties. Applies to
treaties between States.