Silence within the Process of Normative Change and Evolution of the Prohibition on the Use of Force – Normative Volatility and Legislative Responsibility

49 Pages Posted: 15 Oct 2016 Last revised: 12 Feb 2018

See all articles by Prof. Dr. Paulina Starski

Prof. Dr. Paulina Starski

University of Graz; Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law

Date Written: October 13, 2016

Abstract

Focusing on the operations of the ‘Global Coalition against ISIL’ in Syria, this article examines whether the mere silence of states in view of state actions that challenge the established reading of Arts. 2(4) and 51 of the UN Charter might induce and consolidate a process of normative change, and if so, under what conditions. While a ‘legislative responsibility’ is incumbent on states in situations of ‘normative volatility’, which requires them to ‘speak up’, I submit that silent behaviour generates norm-evolutionary effects only under strict conditions. Such effects occur if other states and the international community can legitimately expect that a state makes its dissenting position known. The determination of such an expectation requires an overall assessment of numerous factors including: the determinacy of the legality claims made by the acting states, the capacity of silent states to act, the specific circumstances in which a claim was made, the determinacy of reactive claims of other actors, and questions of time, as well as the nature of the affected rules. I conclude by finding that mere passivity in light of the legality-claims currently made with regard to Coalition airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria does not amount to ‘acquiescence’.

This contribution of part of the research project "The Unwilling or Unable State as a Challenge to International Law" funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation as well as the Daimler and Benz Foundation.

Keywords: acquiescence, use of force, Global Coalition against ISIL, normative evolution, silence, self-defence

Suggested Citation

Starski, Paulina, Silence within the Process of Normative Change and Evolution of the Prohibition on the Use of Force – Normative Volatility and Legislative Responsibility (October 13, 2016). Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law (MPIL) Research Paper No. 2016-20, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2851809 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2851809

Paulina Starski (Contact Author)

University of Graz ( email )

Universitaetsstrasse 15 / FE
A-8010 Graz, 8010
Austria

Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law ( email )

Im Neuenheimer Feld 535
69120 Heidelberg, 69120
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.mpil.de/en/pub/institute/personnel/academic-staff/pstarski.cfm

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
557
Abstract Views
3,372
Rank
90,576
PlumX Metrics