Argument from Roman Law in Current International Law: Occupation and Acquisitive Prescription

Posted: 29 Feb 2008

See all articles by Randall Lesaffer

Randall Lesaffer

Tilburg Law School; KU Leuven - Faculty of Law

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Date Written: February 2005

Abstract

In his Private Law Sources and Analogies of International Law (1927), Hersch Lauterpacht claimed that many rules and concepts of international law stemmed from private law. He also showed that it was common practice in international adjudication and arbitration to look for inspiration there. The rules of private law that had found their way to international law were often common to the great municipal law systems. Many had their origins in Roman private law. This article examines whether and how the International Court of Justice has made use of Roman law rules and concepts. Roman law can be thought to fulfil its role as a source of inspiration for international law in three ways. First, it might have served as a direct historical source during the formative period of the modern law of nations. Second, it might have served as an indirect historical source because of its enduring impact on the great municipal law systems afterwards. Thirdly, it might still be considered ratio scripta, the expression of a timeless and universal law. For the purpose of examining which of these roles Roman law plays in the eyes of the ICJ, the analysis is restricted to two examples of private law analogies: occupation of terra nullius and acquisitive prescription.

Keywords: dosage regimen, pharmacodynamics, Gram-positive bacteria

Suggested Citation

Lesaffer, Randall C. H., Argument from Roman Law in Current International Law: Occupation and Acquisitive Prescription (February 2005). European Journal of International Law, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 25-58, 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=803794

Randall C. H. Lesaffer (Contact Author)

Tilburg Law School ( email )

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Tilburg, 5000 LE
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0031 13 4662294 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://rechten.uvt.nl/lesaffer

KU Leuven - Faculty of Law

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Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

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