4. The Relevance of International Law to Emerging Trends in the Law of Outer Space

Author(s):  
Ivan A. Vlasic
1972 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Watson

It is a commonplace that Rome's greatest contribution to the modern world is its law. Whether this is strictly true or not, Roman law is certainly the basis of the law of Western Europe (with the exception of England and Scandinavia), of much of Africa including South Africa, Ethiopia and in general the former colonies of countries in continental Europe, of Quebec and Louisiana, of Japan and Ceylon and so on. Perhaps even more important for the future is that International law is very largely modelled, by analogy, on Roman law. Just think of the perfectly serious arguments of a few years ago as to whether outer space (including the moon and planets) were res nullius or res communes and whether they were, or were not, susceptible of acquisition by occupatio. This persistence of Roman law has had undesirable consequences. First, Roman law as an academic subject has got into the hands of lawyers whose love of technicalities has frightened off classical scholars who tend not to use the legal sources. Secondly, scholars of antiquity, since Roman law is left well alone, have also been reluctant to look at other ancient legal systems. So have lawyers since these other systems have no ‘practical” value. Thirdly, following upon these but worse still, the usefulness of Roman law for later ages, coupled with its enforced isolation from other systems of antiquity, has often led to an exaggerated respect for it, and to its being regarded as well-nigh perfect, immutable, fit for all people. Many in “the Age of Reason” were ready to regard Roman law as “the Law of Reason”.


Author(s):  
Steven Freeland

The 1957 launch of Sputnik I challenged humankind’s perceptions of what was possible in space, and necessitated the development of a legal framework for the exploration and use of outer space. However, these rules emerged at a time when the development of space-related technology was principally directed towards military objectives. As the possibility of a military confrontation in space increases, uncertainty coalesces with other risks, particularly with respect to the dangers posed by space debris, revealing lacunae in the law, the further evolution of which has largely stalled due to geopolitical factors. Emerging ‘soft’ law principles are neither entirely clear nor sufficiently comprehensive to meet the increasing complexity associated with attempting to regulate outer space. This chapter assesses the uncertainties arising from the existing international legal framework and their correlation to significant risks pertaining to the exploration and use of outer space.


Author(s):  
Boothby William H

This book brings the legal rules governing the use of weapons in armed conflict together into a single volume and interprets and applies those principles and rules to particular weapons technologies. It is the essential reference book for anyone dealing or concerned with the international law applying to weaponry. After relating the historical evolution of weapons law, identifying its sources and discussing the important customary principles that are the foundation of the subject, the book explains to the reader in a logical sequence of chapters how treaty and customary rules apply to particular categories of weapon or to relevant technologies, both traditional and novel. Having explained to the reader how the existing law applies across the full range of weapons technologies, the book discusses how this dynamic field of international law may be expected to develop in the years ahead. This new edition tackles challenging weapons law issues such as the new treaty law on expanding bullets and on the arms trade, novel technologies in the fields of chemistry and biology, the topical controversies associated with autonomous and automated weapon systems, and how law applies to weapons in outer space and to cyber weapons. The law applicable in non-international armed conflicts is summarized; compliance and weapon reviews are carefully explained; and recent international and national military manuals, and other developments in the wider literature, are thoroughly reflected throughout the text.


Author(s):  
Boothby William H

This chapter explores the law of armed conflict with regard to the weapons used in sea warfare. It addresses automatic contact mines, nuclear mines, submarines, missiles, and torpedoes. Relevant elements of the treaties of 1907, of instruments adopted in 1930 and 1936, of the writings of experts and in particular of the San Remo Manual and of the UK Manual are considered in relation to each class of weapon. A discrete section looks at weapons in outer space, noting the application of international law to outer space by virtue of article III of the Outer Space Treaty, and the important provisions of article IV of that treaty. The issues that a reviewer of an outer space weapon would need to consider are set forth in that section.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (20) ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
Daria Bulgakova

As space tourism-related technology breakthrough, the outlook of mining activities having in space moves spacious to be a fact but it should develop in consent with international law, because the issue of space is a deal of international pointing, since space pointing as explorer zone by humanity. The significant guiding instruments in international space law in relating to the space tourism industry are Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, that entered into force on 10 October 1967; Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, entered into force on 11 July 1984. These international treaties mainly condition the states the freedom to explore and using space, but at the same time do not consider the national appropriation of it. The work also proposes European legislation that is applicable to space tourism. The main attention is given to the Treaty of Lisbon. But during the studying, the author proposed the opinion that it can’t be acceptable to space tourism, since it does not directly or even indirectly indicate it. Although it may be applied as such, due to the lack of appropriate specific acts in the field of space travel. However, this act is recommended as a fundamental basis for the further international development of the law on space tourism, as it directly deals with space activities, so it can serve as a guide. The study also doesn’t lose sight of US law, since space tourism increase by US entities through activities with travel destination for the mass. Research shows that US has national law instrument for US enforcement in the space sphere, besides grants property rights to companies to conduct actions on own risks in space with traveler issue as well and opening it to the mass. Thus interprets the freedom enshrined in the UN space acts at its own expense. However, Outer Space Treaty is not consistent in light of the freedom issue in exploration and it interprets liberty broadly, but the interdiction narrowly. Due to that, research reaches that current space-related legislation regime would let for a space journey to develop but not in the path the text of former domestic laws proposes. Attention is also drawn to the social meaning consideration for further law implementation. This research examines the emerging role of social data in the context of highlighting the law necessary to provide properly advanced international legal acts on flights to space with tourists on a spacecraft. Since space tourism may affect international law. The findings indicate that social awareness due to geographical indicators could improve the current situation in the legal regulation of space tourism at risk of international law gap. What is now needed is a cross-national international law study involving law researchers on the space tourism issue. An implication of these findings is that both social position and space flights with traveler purpose should be taken into account when the international lawmaker community able to implement legal acts about understanding issues on entitlement and | or restriction of space activity as space journey. The unborn looking enterprises concerned with mining outer space goods are working on protracted timelines on focus with society’s modern needs. The major point of this article is the explanation of the ban on national allocation, as only being a veto on state appropriation. Under the presumption that exegesis would be a violation of the sense society needs, not states as along. In folding on their own the arrangements to dominate objects beyond the competency of any single state, the US is obtaining a step back out of the international community. This will not be an advantage for the interests of nations though. But nevertheless, the author explains this by the fact that such a national privilege is associated with the direct growth of private activity, which required regulation because at the international level there is no adoption of any specific acts in this area. In order for space tourism to open-up effect, for commercial companies necessary the potential to gain reasonable benefits and a stable legal setting [1]. Substitute option to the unilateral implementation of a legal base, and one that would sustain law confidence both domestically and internationally, is the modernization of an international regime for the stewardship of space excavation functioning as transmitted in Article 11 of the Moon Agreement. International law does not aid the unilateral provision of rights to conduct over outer space by states in an individual way, or through a private corporation and should be accordingly to interpretations of the UN Space Acts disregard the common heritage of mankind. Such would have the prospect to ensure space tourism doesn’t fairly bring individual profits, but betters of humanity. Keywords: international law, space tourism, outer of space, commercialization of space, private space flights, International Treaty.


Author(s):  
Karen J. Alter

In 1989, when the Cold War ended, there were six permanent international courts. Today there are more than two dozen that have collectively issued over thirty-seven thousand binding legal rulings. This book charts the developments and trends in the creation and role of international courts, and explains how the delegation of authority to international judicial institutions influences global and domestic politics. The book presents an in-depth look at the scope and powers of international courts operating around the world. Focusing on dispute resolution, enforcement, administrative review, and constitutional review, the book argues that international courts alter politics by providing legal, symbolic, and leverage resources that shift the political balance in favor of domestic and international actors who prefer policies more consistent with international law objectives. International courts name violations of the law and perhaps specify remedies. The book explains how this limited power—the power to speak the law—translates into political influence, and it considers eighteen case studies, showing how international courts change state behavior. The case studies, spanning issue areas and regions of the world, collectively elucidate the political factors that often intervene to limit whether or not international courts are invoked and whether international judges dare to demand significant changes in state practices.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
P.P. Myslivsky ◽  
◽  
I.N. Shchurova

In international law, there are sources that do not formally have binding force, but may indicate the emergence of the opinio juris of states, as well as emerging practice. The Eurasian Economic Union also issues acts that are not formally binding: they are adopted by the Eurasian Economic Commission in the form of recommendations. In addition, the Union takes into account the recommendatory acts of other international organizations. At present, the practice of the EAEU Court indicates that this body takes into account “soft law” in the course of argumentation, but proceeds from the impossibility of challenging acts that are recommendations of the EEC. The authors give ways to establish the possibility of challenging the EEC recommendations in the EAEU Court.


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