scholarly journals Soft Law, Authoritative Advice, and Nonbinding Agreements

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Marmor
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Practical Reasons ◽  
Reasons For Action ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Legal Obligations ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Mutual Accountability

One of the most fascinating developments in the domain of international law in the last few decades is the astonishing proliferation of non-binding legal instruments, generally referred to as soft law. The forms and origins of various nonbinding legal instruments are quite varied, but what they have in common is the promulgation of norms, commitments, or directives, explicitly avoiding the imposition of legal obligations on the relevant parties. The legal status of soft law is debated in the literature, but my concern in this essay is different: I aim to provide an account of the rationale of soft law from the perspective of the practical reasons that can rationalize such instruments. The argument is focused on analyzing the idea of authoritative advice, suggesting that when authorities advise their putative subjects, they purport to give the subject what I call presumptive reasons for action. I explain here what presumptive reasons are and what their rationale is, suggesting it as a model for the practical reasons in play when soft law operates vertically, in cases of nonbinding directives of international authorities. Horizontal soft law, that normally comes in the form of international treaties, is also explained by employing the idea of presumptive reasons, coupled with the mutual accountability relations that such agreements invariably constitute.

scholarly journals Soft Law, Authoritative Advice and Non-binding Agreements

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-525
Author(s):  
Andrei Marmor
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Practical Reasons ◽  
Reasons For Action ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Legal Obligations ◽  
The Subject

Abstract One of the most fascinating developments in the domain of international law in the last few decades is the astonishing proliferation of non-binding legal instruments or soft law, namely, norms or directives explicitly avoiding the imposition of legal obligations on the relevant parties. From a philosophical perspective, this is rather puzzling: how can we explain the idea of a non-binding directive or a non-binding contract? In this article I aim to provide an account of the rationale of soft law from the perspective of the practical reasons in play. First, I analyse the idea of authoritative advice, suggesting that when authorities advise their putative subjects, they purport to give the subject presumptive reasons for action. I explain what presumptive reasons are. Secondly, I suggest the possibility that something very similar is at work in cases of non-binding agreements, coupled with special accountability relations that such agreements invariably constitute.

scholarly journals Philosophy of “Soft Law” as a Universal Regulator of International Relations Management

wisdom ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 95-103
Author(s):  
Volodymyr ORTYNSKYI ◽  
Valentina SHAMRAYEVA ◽  
Ihor ZEMAN ◽  
Ivanna LISNA ◽  
Oksana VALETSKA
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Management ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
International Treaty ◽  
Political Obligations ◽  
Legal Obligations ◽  
Legal Force

Soft law is a set of rules and guidelines, the legal force of which is at the “negotiation” stage. It has ap- peared in international law since the 1970s as one alternative to international treaties, used in cases where, for various reasons, the parties do not want or cannot commonly decide or to sign an international treaty. Agreements of this kind do not create legal obligations between the contracting parties (under the princi- ple, contracts must be respected) but only set political obligations, observing which is at the discretion of the parties. The primary purpose of the study is to analyze the philosophy of “soft law” in the context of international management of relations. The principal object of the research is the essence and significance of the philosophy of “soft law” as such. The major results of our research are to determine the essence and significance of the philosophy of “soft law” in the context of international relations.

Case Analysis: The Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Case: The Law of Treaties

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malgosia Fitzmaurice
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Vienna Convention ◽  
Fundamental Change ◽  
Unilateral Termination ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Law ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

The subject-matter of this article are the issues of treaty law as expounded in the Judgment in the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros case. The following problems are discussed: unilateral suspension and abandonment of obligations deriving from the binding treaty; the principle of fundamental change of circumstances; unilateral termination of a treaty; applicability of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties in this case; legal status of so-called ‘provisional solution’; impossibility of performance and material breach of treaty; the application of the principle of ‘approximate application’; and the principle pacta sunt servanda. The issues arc discussed at the background of the Drafts of the International Law Commission.

scholarly journals If Germany Came to New Zealand

1999 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 489
Author(s):  
John Salmond
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Inaugural Address ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Subject ◽  
College Now ◽  
Modern Warfare

This article is a report from the New Zealand Mail, 1 August 1906, which covered Professor John Salmond's inaugural address as the chair of law at Victoria College (now Victoria University of Wellington). Professor Salmond dealt with the subject of international law with regards to the conditions of modern warfare. He discusses important international treaties, the role of the civil population, and what would happen if war came to New Zealand. Professor Salmond concludes that a key player in resolving international disputes was arbitration, which he believed was full of hope and promise for the future. 

scholarly journals (Il)Legal evidence in criminal procedures in the case law of the Supreme Court of Cassation in 2019 and 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-456
Author(s):  
Milana Pisarić
Keyword(s):  
Supreme Court ◽  
International Law ◽  
Case Law ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Case File ◽  
Legal Evidence ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Illegal Evidence

The Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that court decisions may not be based on evidence which is, directly or indirectly, by itself or in the manner of obtaining it, contrary to the Constitution, this Code, other laws or the generally accepted rules of international law and ratified international treaties, except in proceedings conducted for the purpose of obtaining such evidence. Illegal evidence cannot be used in criminal proceedings and is therefore separated from the case file. If the judgment is based on illegal evidence, it can be challenged by the appeal against the judgment, but also by the request for the protection of legality. The subject of the paper is the analysis of the recent case law of the Supreme Court of Cassation (in the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020) regarding the requests for the protection of legality stated in connection with illegal evidence.

scholarly journals The “philosophy” of economic diplomacy as an instrument of “soft law”: history and modernity

2021 ◽  
pp. 126-134
Author(s):  
Igor' Olegovich Nadtochii ◽  
Oleg Alekseevich Novikov
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
International Law ◽  
World Order ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Legal Norms ◽  
Economic Diplomacy ◽  
Continuous Application ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Global World ◽  
The Impact

The subject of this research is the phenomenon of economic diplomacy as an instrument of “soft law”, which is becoming widespread in the international relations of modern multipolar world. The object of this research is the international relations and the impact of international legal norms upon formation of their peculiarities. Attention is given to the differences between “soft” and “hard” international law, as well as international and “quasi-international” law. The author explores various historical aspects of international relations, within the framework of which are implemented certain legal mechanisms and instruments. Incompletion of evolution of the phenomenon of “soft law” at the present stage is observed. The conclusion is made that the task of “soft law” in international relations lies in the use of the established international legal toolset and correction of the global world order to the benefit of a certain country of group of countries. It is noted that that key criterion that determines “soft law” as a unique instrument of international relations and international law is the nature of the means that without the extensive use of non-legal instruments. At the same time, the authors claim that in a number of cases, the emergence of legal mechanisms is the result of continuous application of “soft law”.

We Need to Cut Off the Head of the King: Past, Present, and Future Approaches to International Soft Law

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTHIAS GOLDMANN
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Public Authority ◽  
Legal Positivism ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
The Public ◽  
Legal Studies ◽  
Functional Equivalent ◽  
Public Character ◽  
The Concept Of Law

AbstractThis article surveys contemporary approaches to international soft law, such as various types of legal positivism, legal realism, critical legal studies, and global administrative law. It scrutinizes to what extent the concept of law endorsed by each of these approaches is able to tackle two challenges caused by the spread of soft law as a means of governance: (1) the fact that international soft law is today often the functional equivalent of international treaties and (2) the contestations of the legitimacy of soft law. It concludes that discursive approaches that stress the public character of international law appear very promising, because they link broad concepts of law with considerations of legitimacy. However, since international institutions today exercise public authority not only through soft law or hard law, but also through non-legal instruments like information, the article argues that one ultimately needs to conceptually dissociate the concept of international law from the concept of public authority.

Strengthening the Soft International Law of Exchange Arrangements

1983 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Gold
Keyword(s):  
International Economic ◽  
International Law ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Precise Meaning ◽  
International Lawyer ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Hague

The concept of “soft law” in international law has been familiar for some years, although its precise meaning is still debated. A distinguished international lawyer, Professor Ignaz Seidl-Hohenveldern, delivered a series of lectures on International Economic “Soft Law” at the Hague Academy of International Law in 1979. The concept as applied to economic affairs is of particular interest in relation to the subject matter of this article.

scholarly journals The Right of Intervention for the Protection of Nationals : Reassessing the Doctrinal Debate

2005 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-493
Author(s):  
Jean Raby
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Legal Order ◽  
Practical Reasons ◽  
The Past ◽  
International Legal Order ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Right ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Self Defence

The legality of a forceful intervention by a state to protect its nationals has been the subject of a continuing controversy over the past 15 years. Many see it as an unlawful use of force prohibited by the Charter of the United Nations, others see it as a lawful exercice of a self-standing right recognized under contemporary international law, some finally claim it falls under the scope of self-defence. The author proposes not to restate that debate, but more to reassess it, examining and challenging some of the arguments raised on both sides of the question. Within that debate, it will be concluded that the international legal order does indeed recognize the validity of the use of force for such a purpose : if the avenue of self-defence is rejected, for conceptual as well as practical reasons, the right of intervention to protect nationals is indeed, for the author, part of the comtemporary international legal order. Then, the author wishes to broaden the debate and proposes another option, which has not been explored by scholars and publicists but which is found more satisfactory than any other approach : intervention to protect nationals can be justified under international law because of the existence, in a particular case, of a "state of necessity" as defined by the International Law Commission.

scholarly journals Judicial Decisions on the Law of International Organizations

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
International Affairs ◽  
Judicial Decision ◽  
Judicial Decisions ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Domestic Courts ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Law

Concomitant with the rising relevance of international organizations in international affairs, and the general turn to litigation to settle disputes, international institutional law issues have increasingly become the subject of litigation, before both international and domestic courts. While there are several textbooks introducing the law of international organizations, the judicial treatment of this sub-field of international law has not been given the attention due to it. This book contains excerpts of the most prominent international and domestic judicial decisions that are relevant to the law of international organizations, as well as comments thereto. The book contains case-notes regarding about fifty judicial decisions of international and domestic courts. Each case-note consists of five sections, discussing (1) the relevance of the case, (2) the facts, and (3) the legal question; giving (4) a relevant excerpt of the judicial decision; and (5) commenting on the decision. The commentaries are written by leading experts, both scholars and practitioners. The book is divided into seven parts, which correspond to classic categories of international institutional law: (1) legal status (personality), (2) legal powers, (3) institutional structures and position of members, (4) legal acts, (5) obligations, (6) responsibility and accountability, and (7) immunity.

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