On the Use and Abuse of Necessity in the Law of State Responsibility

Abstract

Article 25 of the International Law Commission’s Articles on State Responsibility defines necessity as a general “circumstance precluding wrongfulness” in the law of state responsibility. It has been adopted rapidly and almost uniformly, but with scant independent analysis, as a putative codification of international custom. This essay argues that with reference to the ILC mandate, the definition reflects far more “progressive development” than “codification” of general international law. It also questions the definition’s advisability, coherence, and normative appeal in theory and practice.

Keywords: Necessity, Articles on Responsibility of State of Internationally Wrongful Acts, State Responsibility, Investor-State Arbitration, Law of Nations, Choice of Evils, International Law Commission (ILC), International Tribunals, Intermnational Arbitration

JEL Classification: K10, K19, K33