An Introduction to the Law of the United Nations Book

Preface v

Abbreviations xi

Table of Cases xiii

Table of International Instruments xv

Table of Resolutions xxi

1 Sketch of the Evolution of the Idea for a World Organisation 1

1 Idea of a World Organisation before the Twentieth Century 1

2 Examples of Drafts 2

3 Modern World Organisations 3

2 From the League of Nations to the United Nations 5

4 Historical Importance of the League of Nations 5

5 Genetic Code of the League of Nations: The Transformation of War 5

6 Fundamental Pillars of the Covenant of the League of Nations 7

7 Provisions of the Covenant 10

8 Similarities between the League of Nations and the United Nations 10

9 Differences between the League of Nations and the United Nations 11

10 Mechanisms in the Decline of the League of Nations 13

11 Reasons for the Failure of the League of Nations 15

12 Outcome 19

3 The Establishment of the United Nations Organisation 20

13 Dumbarton Oaks / Yalta 20

14 San Francisco 21

4 Phases in the History of the United Nations 22

15 The Four Historical Phases of the United Nations 22

5 General Layout of the Charter 26

16 Structure of the Charter 26

6 Ideological Manifesto of the Charter: Peace, Cooperation, Rights of Human Person 28

17 General Outline 28

18 'Negative' Peace and 'Positive' Peace 29

19 Problem of Inadequate Means 32

20 Political Ideology of the United Nations 33

7 Fundamental Principles of the Charter 34

21 Article 2 of the Charter 34

22 Evolution from 'Classical' International Law to 'Modern' International Law 35

A Article 2 1 Sovereign Equality 37

23 Contribution of Resolution 2625 37

24 Content of the Principle 38

25 Equality in Law and Equality in Fact 38

26 Equality as a Principle of Structure and Content 39

27 Sovereignty Encased in Equality 40

B Article 2 2: Fulfilment of Obligations in Good Faith 40

28 Aim of the Provision 40

29 Internal and External Scope of the Obligation to Fulfil Obligations 41

30 Limits of the Requirement to Respect Commitments 41

31 Meaning of the Epithet 'in Good Faith' 42

32 Concrete Roles of the Rule contained in 2 43

C Article 2 3: Peaceful Settlement of Disputes 44

33 Link between Settlement of Disputes and the Non-use of Force 44

34 Autonomy of the Settlement of Disputes in Relation to the Non-use of Force 44

35 Contribution of Resolution 2625 46

36 Types of Dispute Envisaged in the Charter 46

37 Requirement to Look for a Solution to a Dispute? 48

D From Article 2 3, to Chapter VI of the Charter: UN Contribution to the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes 50

38 General Aspects of Chapter VI 50

39 Scope of Application 50

40 Referral of a Situation or Dispute 53

41 Action 55

42 Outcome 61

E Article 2 4: Prohibition of the Use of Force 62

43 General Aspects 62

44 Prohibition of Force and its Exceptions 63

45 Developments of Article 2 4 contained in Resolution 2625 65

46 Analysis of Article 2 4 66

47 Self-defence 72

48 Main Condition for the Exercise of Legitimate Self-defence: (Prior) Armed Attack 73

49 Level of Intensity of the Armed Attack under Article 51 76

F From Article 2 4, to Chapter VII: The Maintenance of Peace through Collective Security 77

50 General Aspects 77

51 General Layout of Chapter VII 79

52 Dominating Idea of a Strong Executive 79

53 Article 39: The Keystone to the System 80

54 Articles 41 and 42: Considerable Powers of the Council 82

55 Article 41 82

56 Article 42 85

57 Sanctions Committees 87

58 Residual Powers of the General Assembly: Resolution 377 (V) of 1950, 'Dean Acheson' 88

59 Operations for the Maintenance of Peace 91

60 Outcome 94

G Article 2 7: Exclusive Domestic Jurisdiction and Non-intervention in Internal Affairs 96

61 General Aspects 96

H Duty of State Cooperation 99

62 Contribution of Resolution 2625 99

63 Scope of the Obligation 100

I Right of Self-determination of Peoples 100

64 General Aspects 100

65 Content of Resolution 2625 101

66 'People' 102

67 Limits to the Right to Self-determination 104

68 Exercises of the Right to Self-determination 104

8 Membership of the United Nations (Chapter II, Articles 3-6) 106

69 Membership of States only 106

70 Founding Members and Subsequently Admitted Members 107

71 From Discrimination to Universality 108

72 Admission Procedure 110

73 Specific Issues 110

74 Expulsion from the United Nations 111

75 Withdrawal from the United Nations 113

9 Organs of the United Nations: Functions and Powers 115

76 General Theory on the Powers of Organs of an International Organisation 115

77 Outline of the Principal Organs of the United Nations 120

A General Assembly 120

78 General Aspects 121

79 Functions and Powers 126

80 Voting 126

81 Sessions 127

82 Subsidiary Organs 127

83 Human Rights Council 129

B Security Council 129

84 General Aspects 133

85 Composition 134

86 Voting 135

87 Council Measures 138

88 Question of Security Council Reform 139

C Economic and Social Council 142

89 Importance of 'Functional Cooperation' 142

90 Functions, Composition, Sessions, etc 143

D Trusteeship Council 144

91 Functions and Powers 144

E International Court of Justice 146

92 General Aspects 146

93 Functions and Jurisdiction 146

94 Execution of Judgments 148

95 Activity of the Court 149

96 Proposals for Reform 150

F Secretariat 150

97 General Aspects 150

98 Secretary-General 151

99 Independence of United Nations Personnel 152

G Subsidiary Organs 154

100 General Aspects 154

101 Importance in Practice 154

102 Peacebuilding Commission 156

10 United Nations 'Family': Specialised Affiliated Organisations 157

103 General Aspects 157

104 Affiliation Mechanism 158

105 Effects of Affiliation 159

106 Panorama of Affiliated Organisations 160

11 Article 103 of the Charter 161

107 General Aspects 161

108 Obligations Envisaged 161

109 Scope Ratione Personae 164

110 Legal Effect 165

12 Amendment and Revision of the Charter 167

111 General Aspects 167

112 Ordinary Amendments under Article 108 168

113 Extraordinary Amendments under Article 109 169

114 Informal Modifications 170

13 Effectiveness of the United Nations 172

115 How effective is the United Nations? 172

Has the United Nations Failed? 172

14 United Nations, the Forum and the Oracle 175

Annex 177

Covenant of the League of Nations 177

Charter of the United Nations 186

Select Bibliography 211

Index 241