Book

The international law of occupation

Eyal Benvenisti

2nd ed.

Oxford [etc.] : Oxford University Press, 2012

XXIV, 383 p. ; 24 cm

978-0-19-958889-3

English

Bibliographie : p. 353-370. Index

This thoroughly revised edition of the 1993 book traces the evolution of the law of occupation from its inception during the 18th century until today. It offers an assessment of the law by focusing on state practice of the various occupants and reactions thereto, and on the governing legal texts and judicial decisions. The underlying thought that informs and structures the book suggests that this body of laws has been shaped by changing conceptions about war and sovereignty, by the growing attention to human rights and the right to self-determination, as well as by changes in the balance of power among states. Because the law of occupation indirectly protects the sovereign, occupation law can be seen as the mirror-image of the law on sovereignty. Shifting perceptions on sovereign authority are therefore bound to be reflected also in the law of occupation, and vice-versa.

• Full text : restricted access (ICRC)