Necessity and Proportionality and the Right of Self-Defence in International Law

2021-03-11 Law

Author : Chris O'Meara
Release : 2021-03-11
Genre : Law
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 568/5 ( reviews)

Book Synopsis Necessity and Proportionality and the Right of Self-Defence in International Law by : Chris O'Meara

Download or read book Necessity and Proportionality and the Right of Self-Defence in International Law written by Chris O'Meara. This book was released on 2021-03-11. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: States invariably justify using force extraterritorially by reference to their right of self-defence. In doing so, they accept that the exercise of this right is conditioned by the customary international law requirements of necessity and proportionality. However, these requirements are notorious for being normatively indeterminate and operationally complex. As a breach of either requirement renders ostensibly defensive action unlawful, increased determinacy regarding their scope and substance is crucial to how international law constrains military force. This book examines the conceptual meaning, content, and practical application of necessity and proportionality as they relate to the right of self-defence following the adoption of the UN Charter in 1945. It provides a coherent and up-to-date description of the applicable contemporary international law and proposes an analytical framework to guide its operation and appraisal. This book argues that necessity and proportionality are conceptually distinct and must be applied in the foregoing order to avoid an insufficient 'catch-all' description of legality or illegality. Necessity determines whether defensive force may be used to respond to an armed attack and where it must be directed. Proportionality governs how much total force is permissible and prohibits excessive responses. Both requirements are shown to apply on an ongoing basis throughout the duration of an armed conflict prompted by self-defence. Compliance with necessity and proportionality ensures that the purposes of self-defence are met, and nothing more, and that defensive force is not unduly disruptive to third party interests and to international peace and security.

The Right of Individual Self-Defense in Public International Law

2008 Law

Author : Jan Kittrich
Release : 2008
Genre : Law
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 556/5 ( reviews)

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Book Synopsis The Right of Individual Self-Defense in Public International Law by : Jan Kittrich

Download or read book The Right of Individual Self-Defense in Public International Law written by Jan Kittrich. This book was released on 2008. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book examines in detail one of the most controversial topic in current international law, namely the scope and extent of the right of individual self-defense. The book carefully traces the paths which have been followed in the developing legal debate on self-defense. The author uses numerous case-studies of incidents involving the use of force in alleged self-defense (such as the Entebbe Incident 1976, the Nicaragua Case 1986 or the Israeli-Lebanese conflict of 2006) which have formed the central point of scholarly debate. The author's conclusions are based not only on thorough analysis of academic discussions but also of the practice of States and international bodies, especially of the United Nations Organization. At the outset of the book the author reviews the historical context and the customary evolution of the right of self-defense. Reference is made to the famous Caroline Case of 1837, which set the necessary conditions of lawful exercise of self-defense. Next, the author examines the concept and legal nature of self-defense, carefully assessing the customary conditions of necessity, proportionality and immediacy derived from the Caroline Case. As the occurrence of an "armed attack" is a conditio sine qua non of lawful invocation of self-defense, several modalities of an armed attack are attentively evaluated such as its constituent elements, beginning or scale. The author explores, whether reactions to acts of international terrorism committed by a non-State may be based on the right of self-defense. In times of global terrorist networks it is highly desirable to attach special attention to use of force in self-defense as a remedy against serious acts of terrorism. Thorough analysis of State practice is shown on several examples from recent history - the U.S. air raid on Libya in 1986 and on Baghdad in 1993 and relatively recent air strikes on Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998. Reference is also made to the most striking example - the Al-Qaeda attack on the United States in 2001. The validity of claims of anticipatory/preventive self-defense is examined on a theoretical level and then applied to the specific details of the Israeli air strike on the Osiraq Nuclear Reactor in 1981. The two main approaches to preventive self-defense - "restrictive" and "traditional" - are then discussed in detail. Brief analysis is also devoted to the nature of the so-called - pre-emptive - self-defense indicating its current position under international law.

The Inherent Right of Self-Defence in International Law

2012-09-21 Law

Author : Murray Colin Alder
Release : 2012-09-21
Genre : Law
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 515/5 ( reviews)

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Book Synopsis The Inherent Right of Self-Defence in International Law by : Murray Colin Alder

Download or read book The Inherent Right of Self-Defence in International Law written by Murray Colin Alder. This book was released on 2012-09-21. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Determining the earliest point in time at which international law authorises a state to exercise its inherent right of self-defence is an issue which has been debated, but unsatisfactorily reasoned, by scholars and states since the 1960’s. Yet it remains arguably the most pressing question of law that faces the international community. This book unravels the legal and factual complications which have obscured the answer to this question. In contrast to most other works, it takes an historic approach by tracing the evolution of the rights, rules and principles of international law which have governed the use of force by states since the 16th century. Its emphasis on self-defence provides the reader with a new and complete understanding of how and why the international legal framework limits defensive force to repelling an imminent threat or use of offensive force which is directed at the territory of a state. Taking an historic approach enables this book to resurrect an understanding of the human defensive instinct which has guided the formation of the international law of self-defence. It also explains the true legal nature and scope of the inherent right of self-defence, of anticipatory self-defence and provides a definition of the legal commencement of an armed attack for the purpose of Article 51 of the Charter. Finally, the reader will receive a unique source of research materials and analysis of state practice and of scholarly works concerning self-defence and the use of force since the 16th century, which is suitable for all readers of international law around the world.

Necessity and Proportionality and the Right of Self-defence in International Law

2018

Author : Christopher O'Meara
Release : 2018
Genre :
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : /5 ( reviews)

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Book Synopsis Necessity and Proportionality and the Right of Self-defence in International Law by : Christopher O'Meara

Download or read book Necessity and Proportionality and the Right of Self-defence in International Law written by Christopher O'Meara. This book was released on 2018. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Necessity and Proportionality in International Peace and Security Law

2020-11-30 Law

Author : Claus Kreß
Release : 2020-11-30
Genre : Law
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 375/5 ( reviews)

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Book Synopsis Necessity and Proportionality in International Peace and Security Law by : Claus Kreß

Download or read book Necessity and Proportionality in International Peace and Security Law written by Claus Kreß. This book was released on 2020-11-30. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Necessity and proportionality occupy a firm place in the international law governing the use of force by states. Perhaps most importantly for practical purposes, the exercise of the right of self-defense, as recognized in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, is subject to the requirements of necessity and proportionality, as the International Court of Justice determined in the Nicaragua case. Necessity and proportionality are also firmly anchored in the international law governing armed conflicts. In its Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion, the International Court of Justice even referred to one articulation of the idea of necessity, that directed against the causing of unnecessary suffering, as one of two "cardinal principles" of this body of law. However, beyond statement in such general terms, the realms of uncertainty and controversy soon begin. It is far from clear, for example, how to distinguish with precision between necessity and proportionality in the international law on self-defense and, in immediate connection herewith, what it means precisely to say that forcible action taken in the exercise of self-defense must be proportionate. It is all the less clear what legal significance, if any, necessity and proportionality possess in other contexts of the international law governing the use of force"--

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