Georg Nolte - Böcker

The Interpretation of International Law by Domestic Courts assesses the growing role of domestic courts in the interpretation of international law. It asks whether and if so to what extent domestic courts make use of the international rules of interpretation set forth in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Given the expectation that rules of international law are to have a uniform interpretation and application throughout the world, the practice of domestic courts is considerably more diverse. The contributions to this book analyse three key questions: first, whether international law requires a coherent interpretive approach by domestic courts. Second, whether a common or convergent methodological outlook can be found in domestic court practice. Third, whether a common interpretive approach is desirable from a normative perspective. The book identfies a considerable tension between international law's ambition for universal and uniform application and a plurality of different approaches. This tension between unity and diversity is analysed by a group of leading international lawyers from a wide range of geographical, disciplinary and methodological approaches. Drawing on domestic practice of number of jurisdictions including, among others, Colombia, France, Japan, India, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States, the book puts the interpretative practice of domestic courts in a wider context. Its chapters offer doctrinal, practical as well as theoretical perspectives on a central question for international law.

This book explores the extent to which contemporary international law expects states to take into account the interests of others - namely third states or their citizens - when they form and implement their policies, negotiate agreements, and generally conduct their relations with other states. It systematically considers the various manifestations of what has been described as 'community interests' in many areas regulated by international law and observes how the law has evolved from a legal system based on more or less specific consent and aimed at promoting particular interests of states, to one that is more generally oriented towards collectively protecting common interests and values. Through essays by experts in the field, this book explores topics such as the sources of international law and the institutional aspects of developing the law and covers a range of areas within the law.

This edited volume examines the role of international law in a changing global order. Can we, under the current significantly changing conditions, still observe an increasing juridification of international relations based on a universal understanding of values? Or are we, to the contrary, facing a tendency towards an informalization or a reformalization of international law, or even an erosion of international legal norms? Would it be appropriate to revisit classical elements of international law in order to react to structural changes, which may give rise to a more polycentric or non-polar world order? Or are we simply observing a slump in the development towards an international rule of law based on a universal understanding of values?In eleven chapters, distinguished scholars reflect on how to approach these questions from historical, system-oriented and actor-centered perspectives. The contributions engage with the rise of European international law since the 17th century, the decay of the international rule of law, compliance as an indicator for the state of international law, international law and informal law-making in times of populism, the rule of environmental law and complex problems, human rights in Europe in a hostile environment, the influence of the BRICS states on international law, the impact of non-state actors on international law, international law's contribution to global justice, the contestation of value-based norms and the international rule of law in light of legitimacy claims.

Under the relevant rules of international law, treaties are interpreted in accordance with the ordinary meaning of the language they use, their object and purpose, and the intention of the drafters, but also in light of the subsequent practice of its parties. This subsequent practice can shed light on articles whose meaning is ambiguous and subsequent agreement can even alter the meaning of treaty provisions. At a time when many of the most important international treaties are more than fifty years old, subsequent practice plays an increasingly important role in their interpretation. Treaties and Subsequent Practice discusses the role and relevance of this subsequent practice in the process of dynamic treaty interpretation. The book provides a comprehensive treatment of this topic by eminent commentators, combining contributions which focus on practical cases with chapters examining the theoretical underpinnings of treaty interpretation. The concept of subsequent practice is situated in the more general context of treaty law and international law, looking at different cases and doctrinal questions to assess its policy dimensions. The book addresses the question of whether subsequent practice plays a more or less significant role in different areas of international law, and whether it can be employed as a partial substitute for formal treaty amendments. It also includes two previously unpublished reports issued by the International Law Commission's Study Group on this topic.

Successive hegemonic powers have shaped the foundations of international law. This book examines whether the predominance of the United States is leading to foundational change in the international legal system. A range of leading scholars in international law and international relations consider six foundational areas that could be undergoing change, including international community, sovereign equality, the law governing the use of force, and compliance. The authors demonstrate that the effects of US predominance on the foundations of international law are real, but also intensely complex. This complexity is due, in part, to a multitude of actors exercising influential roles. And it is also due to the continued vitality and remaining functionality of the international legal system itself. This system limits the influence of individual states, while stretching and bending in response to the changing geopolitics of our time.

Successive hegemonic powers have shaped the foundations of international law. This book examines whether the predominance of the United States is leading to foundational change in the international legal system. A range of leading scholars in international law and international relations consider six foundational areas that could be undergoing change, including international community, sovereign equality, the law governing the use of force, and compliance. The authors demonstrate that the effects of US predominance on the foundations of international law are real, but also intensely complex. This complexity is due, in part, to a multitude of actors exercising influential roles. And it is also due to the continued vitality and remaining functionality of the international legal system itself. This system limits the influence of individual states, while stretching and bending in response to the changing geopolitics of our time.

European constitutionalism is not merely an intra-European phenomenon but it can also be compared to other major forms of constitutionalism. Over the past decade or so issues have emerged which seem to indicate that European constitutional theory and practice is becoming aware that it has developed certain rules and possesses certain characteristics which distinguish it from US constitutionalism and vice versa. This book explores whether such differences can be found in the five areas of 'freedom of speech', 'human dignity', 'duty to protect', 'adjudication' and 'democracy and international influences'. The authors of this book are constitutional scholars from Europe and the United States as well as from other constitutional states, such as Canada, Israel, Japan, Peru and South Africa.

Globalization imposes pressures on the traditional welfare state. This book examines these pressures, and responses to them, from the less familiar perspective of international law. The book deals with the role of the international level in securing or supplementing national welfare functions. Thus, the authors evaluate the role of international labour law, social rights as human rights, the World Trade Organisation, non-governmental organisations and international taxation law, in the effort to maintain and promote welfare rights and the welfare state. In addition, the functions of national migration law and of social security law are analysed in case studies.

In der Völkerrechtswissenschaft ist streitig, ob Kampfeinsätze fremder Truppen in internen Konflikten, die nicht auf einem Mandat des Sicherheitsrates der Vereinten Nationen beruhen, völkerrechtlich zulässig sind. Nolte geht in seinem Buch der Frage nach, ob die Einladung der jeweiligen Regierung eine Rechtsgrundlage für solche Einsätze sein kann. Er untersucht die Bedeutung der einschlägigen Grundprinzipien des Völkerrechts (Zustimmung, Interventionsverbot, Gewaltverbot, Selbstbestimmungsrecht, Menschenrechtsschutz, Anerkennung von Regierungen) und analysiert dann die umfangreiche Staatenpraxis. Ergebnis seiner Analyse ist, dass die Einladung der Regierung in bestimmten Grenzen rechtfertigend wirken kann und mit den Grundprinzipien der kollektiven Sicherheit, so wie sie sich seit Ende des Kalten Krieges entwickelt haben, vereinbar ist.

Georg Nolte Excellencies, dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to our colloquium on the occasion of the sixtieth an- versary of the International Law Commission. The Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich and the Humboldt University of Berlin are happy that you have followed our invitation. We are particularly proud that a majority of the members of the Int- national Law Commission have accepted our invitation. The presence of one former member of the Commission deserves special mention: Bruno Simma is now not only a Judge at the International Court of J- tice but also, if I may say so, the “local hero”, having held the wond- ful Chair for International Law at the University of Munich for more than thirty years. He is still living in Munich when he is not in The Hague. We are glad that participants have come from nearby, from neighbouring regions and countries, as well as from countries as far away as Brazil and China. I am personally very content that our group represents a fine mixture of experienced international lawyers and younger colleagues and students. This composition gives us the opp- tunity for fruitful exchanges, and for the ILC to reach out and to - ceive feedback. The International Law Commission needs no introduction. Like a few happy persons, at age sixty it can look back onto a largely successful - reer.

Georg Nolte Excellencies, dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to our colloquium on the occasion of the sixtieth an- versary of the International Law Commission. The Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich and the Humboldt University of Berlin are happy that you have followed our invitation. We are particularly proud that a majority of the members of the Int- national Law Commission have accepted our invitation. The presence of one former member of the Commission deserves special mention: Bruno Simma is now not only a Judge at the International Court of J- tice but also, if I may say so, the “local hero”, having held the wond- ful Chair for International Law at the University of Munich for more than thirty years. He is still living in Munich when he is not in The Hague. We are glad that participants have come from nearby, from neighbouring regions and countries, as well as from countries as far away as Brazil and China. I am personally very content that our group represents a fine mixture of experienced international lawyers and younger colleagues and students. This composition gives us the opp- tunity for fruitful exchanges, and for the ILC to reach out and to - ceive feedback. The International Law Commission needs no introduction. Like a few happy persons, at age sixty it can look back onto a largely successful - reer.

In der Völkerrechtswissenschaft ist streitig, ob Kampfeinsätze fremder Truppen in internen Konflikten, die nicht auf einem Mandat des Sicherheitsrates der Vereinten Nationen beruhen, völkerrechtlich zulässig sind. Nolte geht in seinem Buch der Frage nach, ob die Einladung der jeweiligen Regierung eine Rechtsgrundlage für solche Einsätze sein kann. Er untersucht die Bedeutung der einschlägigen Grundprinzipien des Völkerrechts (Zustimmung, Interventionsverbot, Gewaltverbot, Selbstbestimmungsrecht, Menschenrechtsschutz, Anerkennung von Regierungen) und analysiert dann die umfangreiche Staatenpraxis. Ergebnis seiner Analyse ist, dass die Einladung der Regierung in bestimmten Grenzen rechtfertigend wirken kann und mit den Grundprinzipien der kollektiven Sicherheit, so wie sie sich seit Ende des Kalten Krieges entwickelt haben, vereinbar ist.

Die zul{ssige Reichweite des Ehrenschutzes in der auf Meinungsfreiheit gegr}ndeten Demokratie hat das Bundesverfassungsgericht bereits in vielen F{llen besch{ftigt. In der Literatur w{chst die Kritik an der Rechtsprechung des Gerichts. Diese Kritik bleibt jedoch im nationalen Rahmen befangen, obwohl die Organe nach der Europ{ischen Menschenrechtskonvention begonnen haben, in dieser Frage eine - auch f}r Deutschland beachtliche - offensichtlich aus rechtsvergleichender Sicht gespeiste Rechtssprechung zu entwickeln. Eine wichtige Quelle der Inspiration ist dabei die Entscheidungspraxis des Supreme Court der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika. In diesem Buch wird daher neben dem deutschen und dem europ{ischen Recht auch das amerikanische Recht vorgestellt. Dieses wird insbesondere auf seine historischen und methodischen Dimensionen und auf seine Bedeutung f}r die deutsche Rechtsordnung untersucht. Dabei wird deutlich, da~ das Bundesverfassungsgericht die Wirkungskraft der Meinungsfreiheit, insbesondere in ihrem politischen Kernbereich, im internationalen Vergleich jedenfalls nicht }berbetont.Es erscheint sogar angezeigt, gewisse dogmatische Figuren aus dem amerikanischen Recht sinngem{~ f}r die deutsche Rechtsordnung fruchtbar zu machen. Abschlie~end wird @ 187 a StGB, die deutsche Sondervorschrift zum strafrechtlichen Beleidigungsschutz f}r Politiker, einer kritischen W}rdigung unterzogen.

The German Ministry of Defense decided in 2000 to commission a study comparing various European systems of military law. The present book contains not only the original study but also all national reports in English. It provides a comparative analysis of different European military law systems on the basis of national reports.