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The Legality of Unilateral Economic Sanctions - An analysis of international law on the lawfulness of unilateral economic restrictive measures

Holst, Johan LU (2023) LAGF03 20231
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
This thesis explores the legality of unilateral economic sanctions in international law. It concludes that economic sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, as well as countermeasures taken by states in accordance with established ILC criteria, are lawful when adhering to the principle of proportionality and aligning with human rights regulations. However, the legality of third-party countermeasures largely remains unclear.

Unilateral economic sanctions implemented outside a competent international institution and without a prior injury pose the greatest uncertainty. Arguments favoring their legality emphasize the inherent economic freedom of States, judgments by international courts and... (More)
This thesis explores the legality of unilateral economic sanctions in international law. It concludes that economic sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, as well as countermeasures taken by states in accordance with established ILC criteria, are lawful when adhering to the principle of proportionality and aligning with human rights regulations. However, the legality of third-party countermeasures largely remains unclear.

Unilateral economic sanctions implemented outside a competent international institution and without a prior injury pose the greatest uncertainty. Arguments favoring their legality emphasize the inherent economic freedom of States, judgments by international courts and increasing State practice, suggesting a development toward a new norm of customary law. Converse-ly, opponents cite the prohibitions on coercive measures in UNGA resolutions and highlight concerns about state sovereignty and non-intervention, supported by a significant number of UN member states and the Human Rights Council.

This thesis acknowledges the lack of a definitive answer regarding the legality of unilateral economic sanctions, as well as noting the ongoing legal ambiguity and international political divisions surrounding the issue. The accumulation of State practice may eventually shape a new customary law norm, despite opposition from some parts of the international community. Alternatively, a reinterpretation of existing rules on third-party countermeasures could provide a lawful application for unilateral economic sanctions. For now, unilateral economic sanctions are nevertheless likely to persist as states view them as alternatives to forceful intervention or passive diplomatic approaches. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
I denna uppsats undersöks lagligheten hos unilaterala ekonomiska sanktioner inom folkrätten. Slutsatsen nås att ekonomiska sanktioner upprättade av FN:s säkerhetsråd i enlighet med kapitel VII i FN-stadgan, såväl som motåtgärder instiftade inom ramen för kriterierna etablerade av ILC, är att an-ses som lagliga såtillvida de inte bryter mot proportionalitetsprincipen eller gällande reglering för upprätthållande av mänskliga rättigheter. Lagligheten hos motåtgärder instiftade av tredjepartsländer utan direkt skada, förblir dock en fråga utan ett definitivt svar.

Unilaterala ekonomiska sanktioner som implementeras av en stat utan att ha drabbats av en tidigare skada och vid sidan av en kompetent internationell organisation, utgör den... (More)
I denna uppsats undersöks lagligheten hos unilaterala ekonomiska sanktioner inom folkrätten. Slutsatsen nås att ekonomiska sanktioner upprättade av FN:s säkerhetsråd i enlighet med kapitel VII i FN-stadgan, såväl som motåtgärder instiftade inom ramen för kriterierna etablerade av ILC, är att an-ses som lagliga såtillvida de inte bryter mot proportionalitetsprincipen eller gällande reglering för upprätthållande av mänskliga rättigheter. Lagligheten hos motåtgärder instiftade av tredjepartsländer utan direkt skada, förblir dock en fråga utan ett definitivt svar.

Unilaterala ekonomiska sanktioner som implementeras av en stat utan att ha drabbats av en tidigare skada och vid sidan av en kompetent internationell organisation, utgör den största osäkerheten i fråga om legalitet. Förespråkare av lagligheten i denna praktik pekar på staters inneboende ekonomiska frihet, domslut från internationella domstolar och en växande statspraxis, vilket av vissa anses indikera en utveckling mot en ny sedvanerättslig norm i denna riktning. I kontrast till denna hållning menar andra att praktiken är olaglig med grund i förbud mot tvingande åtgärder utlästa ur resolutioner från FN:s generalförsamling, samt påvisar dess oförenlighet med principer om statssuveränitet och icke-ingripande; en position som understöds av en betydande del av FN:s medlemsstater och av FN:s råd för mänskliga rättig-heter.

Uppsatsen framhåller bristen på ett tydligt svar på frågan om laglighet för unilaterala ekonomiska sanktioner och visar på den fortsatta rättsliga tvetydigheten och de internationella politiska splittringarna som omgärdar frågan. Ackumuleringen av statspraxis kan möjligen i framtiden etablera en ny sed-vanerättslig norm, trots motstånd från en betydande del av det internationella samfundet. Alternativt kan en utveckling av den existerande regleringen av motåtgärder av tredje-partsstater leda till en laglig väg till implementering av unilaterala ekonomiska sanktioner. I nuläget tycks det oavsett rimligt att förutsätta att unilaterala ekonomiska sanktioner kommer att fortsätta att nyttjas av stater när alternativen framstår som ett val mellan militära interventioner och passiv diplomati. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Holst, Johan LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20231
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
public international law, unilateral economic sanctions, coercive measures, countermeasures, state sovereignty, non-intervention, customary law
language
English
id
9116074
date added to LUP
2023-06-29 13:45:06
date last changed
2023-06-29 13:45:06
@misc{9116074,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the legality of unilateral economic sanctions in international law. It concludes that economic sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, as well as countermeasures taken by states in accordance with established ILC criteria, are lawful when adhering to the principle of proportionality and aligning with human rights regulations. However, the legality of third-party countermeasures largely remains unclear.

Unilateral economic sanctions implemented outside a competent international institution and without a prior injury pose the greatest uncertainty. Arguments favoring their legality emphasize the inherent economic freedom of States, judgments by international courts and increasing State practice, suggesting a development toward a new norm of customary law. Converse-ly, opponents cite the prohibitions on coercive measures in UNGA resolutions and highlight concerns about state sovereignty and non-intervention, supported by a significant number of UN member states and the Human Rights Council.

This thesis acknowledges the lack of a definitive answer regarding the legality of unilateral economic sanctions, as well as noting the ongoing legal ambiguity and international political divisions surrounding the issue. The accumulation of State practice may eventually shape a new customary law norm, despite opposition from some parts of the international community. Alternatively, a reinterpretation of existing rules on third-party countermeasures could provide a lawful application for unilateral economic sanctions. For now, unilateral economic sanctions are nevertheless likely to persist as states view them as alternatives to forceful intervention or passive diplomatic approaches.}},
  author       = {{Holst, Johan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Legality of Unilateral Economic Sanctions - An analysis of international law on the lawfulness of unilateral economic restrictive measures}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}