Man, Land and Sea: Local Populations in Territorial and Maritime Disputes before the International Court of Justice

Yusra Suedi

doi:10.1163/15718034-12341438

Abstract

Abstract The International Court of Justice routinely resolves territorial and maritime boundary disputes between States. Such disputes often carry repercussions for the lives and livelihoods of local populations living on the territories of the State litigants. This analysis seeks to examine the extent to which State litigants’ concerns for the impact of maritime disputes or territorial disputes on their local populations are factored into the Court’s decision-making process. It also seeks to identify reasons for the Court’s approach in such disputes, and to explore the potential role of the principle of equity in such contexts.

Highlights

We met in unusual circumstances, in the autumn of 1991, during the pleadings in the Nauru case. He was Australian – and he was very much so! – he was part of the Nauru team, following in the footsteps of his master, Ian Brownlie, whereas I had been drawn into the Australian team by Derek Bowett, whom he joined on the Libyan team, while I was on Chad’s team
Everything went back to normal on the occasion of the East Timor team: he joined his motherland – we were both pleading for Australia! – this is a small world
Pellet travels with James, notably along the Cambodia-Thailand boundary, or in the Danube Delta

Summary

Introduction

We met in unusual circumstances, in the autumn of 1991, during the pleadings in the Nauru case. – he was part of the Nauru team, following in the footsteps of his master, Ian Brownlie, whereas I had been drawn into the Australian team by Derek Bowett, whom he joined on the Libyan team (in the Aouzou Strip case), while I was on Chad’s team.

Results

Conclusion