MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF LAW
BACHELOR OF LAWS (LL B)
SEMESTER I, 2019/2020
PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW, L3112
(READING LIST)

The course in Public International Law is intended to enable students acquire an

understanding of the nature, institutions and principles of international law. The course will
explore the role of law in the relations between States in foreign policy and diplomacy. The
course covers major aspects of public international law such as subjects of international law
(states, international organisations, individuals), sources of international law (custom,
treaties, jus cogens, general principles of law, ‘soft law’, etc), principles on the birth and
existence of states (territory, state-hood, recognition and state succession); rules of
international dealings (law of treaties, diplomatic and consular relations) and principles on
pacific settlement of disputes and the law on use of force and intervention.

The course is to be conducted through mixed teaching techniques, primarily through lectures
but students are expected to engage in discussions into specific aspects and problems of
international law. The approach to the course is main-stream and aims at presenting law as
applied by the international subjects and tribunals. The reading list is only a guide to
background reading and additional materials can be accessed on the internet. Expansive
reading of textual materials in international law and international relations is highly
recommended.
Busingye Kabumba/Emmanuel Bagenda/Godber Tumushabe
Faculty of Law, Makerere University
_______________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL READING
Akehurst, M., A Modern Introduction to International Law, 7th ed. (London: George Allen & Unwin
Publ. Ltd, 1998).
*Brownlie, I., Principles of Public International Law, 5th ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998)
Cassese, A., International Law in a Divided World (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986)
*Harris, D.J., Cases and Materials in International Law, 5th ed. (London: Sweet & Maxwell, 1998)
Shaw, M.N., International Law, 4th ed. (Cambridge: Grotius Publ., 1997)
Charter of the United Nations, 1945
Statute of the International Court of Justice
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969
For the document collections, the following are recommended:
*Brownlie, I., Basic Documents in International Law, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983)
Weston, Falk & D’Amato, Basic Documents in International Law and World Order, 2nd ed. (West
Publ. Co., 1990)
*International treaties/documents can be accessed at "http://www.tufts.edu/fletcher/
multilaterals.html" . See also http://www.tufts.edu/fletcher/ multilaterals.html

* * * * *
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 I. Evolution of the Role of Law in International Relations and
Nature of International Law as ‘Law’

The growth of doctrine in the ‘law of nations’ from Hugo Grotius to Emmerich de Vattel (1625-1776)
vis-à-vis the birth of ‘modern States’ with the 1648 Peace of Westphalia. The Balance of Power
détente in Europe to the real politik of League of Nations and inter-war period and reconstituting of
International Law in the United Nations era (1848-1945). The import of the individual-state analogy
in conception of ‘personality’ and the pre-eminence of consent in the evolution of international law.
Controversy and debate as to character and quality of international law as ‘law’, as to its binding nature
and basis of obligations. International law as a legal system in comparison to the municipal law
systems.

*Harris, Cases and Materials, 1-15.

*Bederman, ‘Reception of the Classical Tradition in International Law: Grotius’ De Jure Belli ac Pacis’
(2000)
Brierly, L., The Basis of Obligation in International Law (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1928)
Bull, H., et al. (eds), Hugo Grotius and International Relations (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990)
Castenada, ‘The Undeveloped Nations and the Development of International Law’ (1961) 15
International Organisation 38.
*D’Amato, A., ‘Is International Law really Law?’ (1985) 79 Northwestern Law Review 1293
*Hart, HLA, The Concept of Law (1961), chap. X.
*Kingsbury, B., ‘Confronting Difference: The Puzzling Durability of Gentili’s Combination of
Pragmatic Pluralism and Normative Judgment’ (1998) 92 AJIL 713.
Lauterpacht, H., ‘The Grotian Tradition in International Law’ (1946) 23 BYIL 1
Meron, T., ‘Common Rights of Mankind in Gentili, Grotius and Suarez’ (1991) 85 AJIL 110
Sinhah, ‘Attitude of the Afro-Asian States towards the Binding Quality of International Law’ (1965) 14
ICLQ 121
Williams, ‘International Law and the Controversy concerning the word “Law”’ (1945) 22 BYIL 146

Naullila Incident (Portugal v. Germany) (1928) RIAA

*Corfu Channel Case (Great Britain v. Albania) [1949] ICJ Rep. 6
*Asylum case (Colombia v. Peru) [1950] ICJ Rep. 15
Re Piracy Gentium [1934] AC 586

II. System of Sources of International Law – Creation of Norms and Principles

Formal basis of international law and identification of a rule of international law – the traditional
starting point as article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice in the Court’s
ascertainment of international law from (i) international conventions; (ii) international custom: (iii)
general principles of law; (iv) judicial decisions and learned writings of publicists; (v) ea aequo et bono
(and equity). Address nature of a treaty (as distinguished from other contractual agreements); elements
of custom (state practice and opinio juris); relationship between treaty rules and customary rules; jus
cogens norms and erga omnes obligations; and the hierarchy between sources (e.g. treaties and UN
Charter)

Charter of the United Nations, 1945, arts. 2(6), 13, 24, 25, 102 and 103
Statute of the International Court of Justice, arts. 38 and 59
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, arts. 2, 6

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*Island of Palmas case (Netherlands v. United States) (1928) 2 RIAA 245
SS Lotus case (Turkey v. France) (1929) PCIJ Ser. A, No. 10
Legal Status of Eastern Greenland case (Denmark v. Norway) (1933) PCIJ Ser. A/B No. 53
Anglo-Norwegian Fisheries case (United Kingdom v. Norway) [1951] ICJ Rep.
*Asylum case (Colombia v. Peru) [1950] ICJ Rep. 266
Right of Passage over Indian Territory (Portugal v. India) [1960] ICJ Rep.
South West Africa cases (Second Phase) (Ethiopia/Liberia v. South Africa) [1966] ICJ Rep. (esp.
opinion of Judge Tanaka)
*Nuclear Tests cases (Australia/New Zealand v. France) [1974] ICJ Rep. 253
*North Sea Continental Shelf cases (Denmark/Netherlands v. Federal Republic of Germany) [1969]
ICJ Rep. 3
Texaco Overseas Petroleum v. Libya Arab Republic (1977) 53 ILR 389
Continental Shelf case (Malta v. Libya) [1985] ICJ Rep. 13
*Case concerning Military and Paramilitary activities in and against Nicaragua (Merits) (Nicaragua v.
United States) [1986] ICJ Rep. 6 (extracts)
*Case concerning Arbitral Award of 31 July 1989 (Guinea-Bissau v. Senegal) (1989) 83 ILR 1
*East Timor case (Portugal v. Australia) (appln.) [1992] ICJ Rep.
*Case concerning Questions of Interpretation and Application of the Montreal Convention arising
from Aerial Incident at Lockerbie (Libya v. United States/ United Kingdom) [1992] ICJ Rep.

Akehurst, M., ‘Custom as a Source of International Law’ (1974-5) 47 BYIL 1

Akehurst, M., ‘Hierarchy of the Sources of International Law’ (1974-5) 47 BYIL 273
Baxter, R.R., ‘Multilateral Treaties as Evidence of Customary International Law’ (1965-6) BYIL 290
Corbett, ‘Consent of States and Sources of The Law of Nations’ (1925) 6 BYIL 20
*Czaplinski, W., ‘Sources of International Law in the Nicaragua case’ (1989) 38 ICLQ 151
Chinkin, C., ‘Challenge of Soft Law: Development and Change in International Law’ (1989) 38 ICLQ
850
Byers’, M., ‘Conceptualising the Relationship between Jus Cogens and Egra Omnes Rules’ (1997)
Nordic JIL 211
McNair, A., ‘The General Principles of Law recognised by Civilised Nations’ (1967) 33 BYIL 1.
Robin, ‘International Legal Effects of Unilateral Declarations’ (1977) 71 AJIL

III. Treaties as Contractual Relations between States

Inter-temporal law and Legal Regime on treaties. Capacity to conclude treaties and means of
expression of Consent to be bound. Reservations as qualifications of consent, question of
permissibility and legal effects. Interpretation of Treaties. Third States and rights/obligations under
treaties. Invalidity, Termination and Suspension of Treaties (and attendant consequences)
Charter of the United Nations, 1945, art. 2(6)
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, arts. 2, 6-16, 19-23, 31-32, 34-38, 39-41, 46-63, etc.
Competence of the ILO with respect to Agricultural Labour, adv. op. [1922] PCIJ Ser. B, Nos. 2 and 3
Polish Postal Service in Danzig case [1925] PCIJ Ser. B, No. 11
Tacna-Arica Arbitration (Chile v. Peru) (1925) 2 RIAA 929
Brazilian Loans case (France v. Brazil) [1929] PCIJ Ser. A, Nos. 20-21
Free Zones of Upper Savoy and District of Gex case (Switzerland v France) [1932] PCIJ Ser. A/B,
No. 46
Case concerning the Denunciation of the Sino-Belgium Treaty of 1865 (Belgium v. China) [1932] PCIJ
Ser. C, No. 16
*Conditions for the Admission of a State to Membership of the United Nations, adv. op. [1948] ICJ
3
Rep. 57
*Interpretation of the Peace Treaties with Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, adv. op. [1950] ICJ Rep. 65
*Reservations to the Genocide Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide, adv. op. [1951] ICJ Rep. 15
Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand) [1962] ICJ Rep. 6
Certain Expenses of the United Nations (art. 17, para. 2 of the Charter), adv. op. [1962] ICJ Rep. 151
*Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in South West Africa
notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 667 (1970), adv. op. [1971] ICJ Rep. 6
*Fisheries Jurisdiction cases (Jurisdiction) (United Kingdom/Federal Republic of Germany v. Iceland)
[1973] ICJ Rep. 3
Anglo-French Continental Shelf Arbitration case (United Kingdom v. France) (1977) 54 ILR 6
*Effect of Reservations on the Entry into Force of the American Convention on Human Rights, adv.
op. OC-3/82 (1982) 45 ILR 559
*Case concerning Arbitral Award of 31 July 1989 (Guinea-Bissau v. Senegal) (1989) 83 ILR 1
Rainbow Warrior Arbitration (New Zealand v. France) (1990) 82 ILR 499
*Case concerning Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary v Slovakia) [1998] ICJ Rep.

Bowett, D.W., ‘Reservations to Non-Restricted Multilateral Treaties’ (1976-7) 47 BYIL 88

*Boyle, A., ‘The Law of Treaties and Anglo-French Continental Shelf Arbitration’ (1980) 29 ICLQ
498
*Reichert-Facilides, D., ‘Down the Danube: The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the
Case concerning Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project’ (1998) 47 ICLQ 837

IV. Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law

Theories of monism v. dualism and of incorporation v. transformation in relationship between

international law and municipal law. Reliance by a State on municipal law in conflict with international
obligations. Status and significance of municipal law before international tribunals. Approach of
domestic courts to international law.

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, arts, 27 and 46

Triquet v. Bath (1764) 3 Burr 1478

The Parlement Belge [1879] 4 PD 129
Mortensen v. Peters (1906) Court of Justiciary
Chung Chi Cheng [1939] AC 160
Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations case, adv. op. [1925] PCIJ Ser.
Brazilian Loans case (France v. Brazil) [1929] PCIJ Ser. A, Nos. 20-21
Sie Fuji v. State of California (1952) 19 ILR 312
Trendtex Trading Corporation v. Central Bank of Nigeria [1977] QB 529
*Case concerning Arbitral Award of 31 July 1989 (Guinea-Bissau v. Senegal) (1989) 83 ILR 1
International Tin Council cases (1990s)
*Unity Dow v. Attorney-General of Botswana (1992) LRC 829
R v. Evans & Anor and the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis & Ors ex parte Pinochet
[1999] 2 WLR 272 (Pinochet case)

Kabumba, B ‘The application of international law in the Ugandan judicial system: A critical enquiry’ in
Killander, M (ed) International law and domestic human rights litigation in Africa available for download at
http://www.pulp.up.ac.za/pdf/2010_17/2010_17.pdf

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 V. Personality and Subjects of International Law

Theory of personality and concepts of subjects in international law – attributes of a subject of

international law (bearer of rights and obligations and endowed with capacity for their enforcement in
international fora). Transition from exclusivity of state as subject of traditional international law to
new categories of subjects in modern international law, including international organisations (e.g.
United Nations); individuals (human rights; crimes against humanity); peoples (under colonial, alien
and racist domination); national liberation movements (NLMs)

Charter of the United Nations, 1945, arts 104-105

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, GA Res. 260-III (1948)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 (and First Optional Protocol)
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organisations or between
International Organisations, 1986
Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, 1994, art. 6.
Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998

Jurisdiction of the European Commission of the Danube between Galatz and Braila, adv. op. [1927]
PCIJ Ser. B, No. 14.
International Institute for Agriculture v. Profili (1929) 5 Ann Dig. 413
Major War Criminals Trials, Proceedings of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg (1946)
Cmnd 6964
*Reparations for Injuries suffered in the Service of the United Nations, adv. op. [1949] ICJ Rep. 174
International Status of South West Africa, adv. op. [1950] ICJ Rep. 128
Attorney-General of Israel v. Eichmann (1961) 35 ILR 6
Ryuichi Shinoda & Ors v. The State (1963) 32 ILR 626
*Western Sahara case, adv. op. [1975] ICJ Rep. 6
R v. Evans & Anor and the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis & Ors ex parte Pinochet
[1999] 2 WLR 272 (Pinochet case)
*Case concerning Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000 (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Belgium)
[2000] ICJ Rep. (see esp. declaration by ad hoc Judge van den Wyngaert)

Lauterpacht, H, ‘The Subjects of the Law of Nations’ (1948) 64 LQR 97

Okeke, C.N., Controversial Subjects of Contemporary International Law (Rotterdam: Rotterdam
Univ. Press, 1974)
Mullerson, R, A., ‘Human Rights and the Individual as a Subject of International Law’ (1992) 1 EJIL
33

VI. Statehood, Recognition and Succession

States as traditional subjects and creators of international law. Statehood and its creation in
international law: traditional criteria of statehood (population, territory, government and
independence) and import of modern principles (e.g. self-determination). Recognition of States vis-à-
vis constitutive and declaratory theories in international law. Recognition of governments and effects
in domestic law. Specific incidents will be examined (e.g. Israel, Manchukuo, Bantustans, Congo, new
states in Eastern Europe (esp. post-Yugoslav states)). Succession of States (and governments) and
implications for treaties, contracts, etc.

Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, 1933

5
Charter of the United Nations, 1945, arts. 1, 4, 55-6, 73-85
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Territories and Peoples, GA Res. 1514
(XV) (1960)
Declaration of Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among
States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, GA Res. 2625 (XXV) (1970)
*EC Declaration on the Guidelines for the Recognition of New States in Eastern Europe and the
Soviet Union (December 1991)

Luther v. Sagor (1921) 3 KB 532

Austro-German Customs Union case (1931) PCIJ Ser.
Civil Air Transport Inc. v. Central Air Transport Corporation [1953] AC 70
*Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in South West Africa
notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 667 (1970), adv. op. [1971] ICJ Rep. 6
Western Sahara case, adv. op. [1975] ICJ Rep. 6
Cur Corporation v. Trust Bank of Africa Ltd. [1987] QB 599
*Arbitration Commission on the Conference on Yugoslavia (1991-2) 92 ILR 162 (esp. Opinion Nos.
1, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10) (Badinter Commission)
*East Timor case (Portugal v. Australia) (appln.) [1992] ICJ Rep.
Republic of Somalia v. Woodsmoke Drake & Carey Suiss SE [1993] QB 54

Crawford, J., The Creation of States in International Law (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1979)

VII. Territory and its Acquisition in International Law

The traditional modes of acquisition of territory by States in international law (discovery, occupation,
conquest, cession, accretion/avulsion, prescription, contiguity). Notion of terra nullis and its rejection
in modern international law. Relevance of concepts of inter-temporal doctrine and critical date.
Implications of principles of modern international law on traditional modes (self-determination, non-
use of force) and of concepts of territorial integrity and uti possidetis.

Charter of the United Nations, article 2(4)

*Declaration of Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation
among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, GA Res. 2625 (XXV), 1970.
Security Council Res. 242(1967)
Security Council Res. 660 (1990)

British Guiana v Venezuela Boundary Arbitration (1899-1900) 92 BFSP 160

Chamizal Arbitration (US v. Mexico) (1911) 5 AJIL 782
*Island of Palmas Case (Netherlands v. US) (1928) 2 RIAA 829
Clipperton Island Arbitration (France v. Mexico) (1932) 26 AJIL 390
Eastern Greenland Case (Denmark v. Norway) (1933) PCIJ Ser. A/B No 53
*Minquiers and Ecrehos Case (United Kingdom v. France) [1953] ICJ Rep. 47
Case Concerning Sovereignty over Certain Frontier Land (Belgium v. Netherlands) [1959] ICJ Rep.
209
Right of Passage over Territory of India (Portugal v. India) [1960] ICJ Rep. 6, (see dissenting opinion
of Judge Moreno Quintana)
Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand) [1962] ICJ Rep. 6
*Western Sahara case, adv. op. [1975] ICJ Rep. 6.
*Frontier Dispute Case (Burkina Faso v. Mali) [1986] ICJ 554
6
*Arbitration Commission on the Conference on Yugoslavia (1991-2) 92 ILR 162 (esp. Opinion Nos.
1, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10) (Badinter Commission)
Case Concerning the Land, Island and Maritime Frontier Dispute (Merits) (El Salvador v. Honduras)
[1992] ICJ 351 (Gulf of Fonseca Case)
*Mabo v State of Queensland (1992) 66 ALJR 408
East Timor Case (Portugal v Australia) [1995] ICJ Rep. 90

Cheng, T., ‘The Sino-Japanese Dispute over the Tiao-yu-tai (Senkaku) Islands and the Law of
Territorial Acquisition’ (1974) 14 Va. J. Int'l L. 253
*Heflin, W.B., ‘Diayou/Senkaku Islands Dispute: Japan and China, Oceans Apart’ (2000) 1 Asian-Pac.
L. & Pol'y J. 18
Jessup, P., ‘The Palmas Island Arbitration’ (1928) 22 AJIL 735
Lauterpacht, H., ‘River Boundaries: Legal Aspects of the Shatt-Al-Arab-Frontier’ (1960) 9 ICLQ 208

VIII. Questions of Sovereignty – Jurisdiction and Jurisdictional Immunities

The plea of territorial sovereignty remains the foundation of international relations, as it does raise
concerns as to competences of States to proscribe and enforce rules within and beyond their
territories as well as to subject foreign sovereigns to jurisdiction of their national courts. Theoretical
bases of jurisdiction – territoriality, passive nationality, universality, etc. vis-à-vis theory and doctrine
on immunity from jurisdiction – the notions of jure imperii and jure gestionis and application in
modern era of greater involvement of the state (and its agencies) in commercial activities/transactions.

ILC Draft Convention on the Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property (1991)
European Convention on State Immunity of 16 May 1972
Foreign States Immunity Act, 1976 (United States)
State Immunity Act, 1978 (United Kingdom)
State Immunity Act 1982, (Canada)
Foreign States Immunities Act 1985 (Australia)

*Case on the Aerial Incident at Lockerbie (above) (extracts)

*Case concerning Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000 (above)
Trendtex Trading Corporation Ltd v. Central Bank of Nigeria [1977] QB.529
United States v. Yunis, 924 F.2d 1086 (DC.Cir.1991) 140
*Adella Tachiona & Ors v. Robert Gabriel Mugabe & Ors (2000) (DC, New York)
*Pinochet case (1999) (above)
Certain Criminal Proceedings in France (Republic of the Congo v. France) (2003) ICJ Rep. (pending)

Sornarajah, `Problems in Applying the Restrictive Theory of Sovereign Immunity', (1982) 31 ICLQ
661.
Crawford, J., `International Law and Foreign Sovereigns: Distinguishing Immune Transactions' (1983)
54 BYIL 74.
*Zappalà, S., ‘Do Heads of State in Office Enjoy Immunity from Jurisdiction for International
Crimes? The Ghaddafi Case Before the French Cour de Cassation’ (2001) 12(3) EJIL 595-612.

IX. Law on Diplomatic and Consular Relations – Immunities and Privileges

Status and activities of the diplomatic missions under 1961 Vienna Convention. Use and misuse of
privileges and immunities. The diplomatic toolkit applied in the political relations. Functions of the
regular and honorary consuls under the 1963 Vienna Convention regulating the status of the consular
7
mission. Consular protection versus diplomatic protection.

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961.

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963.

Engelke v. Musmann [1928] AC 433.

Dickinson v. Del Solar [1930] 1 KB 376.
*Asylum case (1950) (above).
Empson v. Smith [1966] 1 QB 426.
Agbor v. Metropolitan Police Commissioner [1969] 1 WLR 703 (CA).
*Case concerning US Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran (United States v. Iran) [1979] ICJ Rep.
9
Dikko Incident, Hansard, HC, vol. 985, col. 1219, 2 June 1980.
Libyan Peoples Bureau Incident, UK Foreign Affairs Committee Report (1984).
*Case Concerning the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States) [1998]
ICJ Rep.
Breard v. Greene (1998) 37 ILM (US Supreme Court).
*Le Grand case (Germany v. United States) (1998) ICJ Rep.
*The Right to Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due
Process of Law, IACHR adv. op. OC-16/99 (1999).
*Difference Relating to Immunity from Legal Process of a Special Rapporteur of the Commission on
Human Rights, adv. op. [1999] ICJ Rep. 3.
*Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2000) ICJ Rep.
Avena and other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America) (2003) ICJ Rep.
Akehurst, Modern Introduction, 123-29.
Dembinski, L., The Modern Law of Diplomacy, Nijhoff, Dordrecht, 1988, 163-171, 191-221
Harris, Cases and Materials, 319-46.
*Paust, JJ, ‘Breard and the Treaty-Based Rights under the Consular Convention’ (1998) 92 AJIL 691.

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