University of Cambridge
Law Tripos 2018-2019 – International Law
Territory and the Global Commons
I. Overview.......................................................................................... 1
A. ‘Territory’...................................................................................1
B. The Significance of Territory and Disputes over Territory.......2
C. Key Concepts.............................................................................3
D. Other Spaces, incl. the Global Commons..........................................................................4
II. Title to territory.............................................................................5
A. The Classical Modes of Acquiring Territory....................................................................5
1. Accretion........................................................................................ 5
2. Conquest/subjugation....................................................................5
3. Cession........................................................................................... 6
1. Occupation..................................................................................... 6
5. (Acquisitive) Prescription..............................................................7
B. Other modes of acquiring territory....................................................................................8
III. Global Commons..........................................................................8
A. High Seas..............................................................................................................................8
B. Seabed...................................................................................................................................9
C. Antarctica.............................................................................................................................9
D. The Arctic.............................................................................................................................9
E. Outer Space........................................................................................................................10
Reading............................................................................................ 12
I. Overview
1 The ‘Race to the North Pole’: a new scramble for Africa?
Competition for remaining territory among the Great Powers
‘The superior races have a right vis-à-vis the inferior races’ (Ferry)
The Berlin Conference (1884)
A. ‘Territory’
2 Territory as an essential characteristic of statehood: Article 1, 1933 Montevideo
Convention
3 States have (territorial) sovereignty over their territory. Island of Palmas (1928) 2 RIAA
829, 838-39.
1
Law Tripos 2018-2019 – International Law
Territory and the Global Commons
I. Overview.......................................................................................... 1
A. ‘Territory’...................................................................................1
B. The Significance of Territory and Disputes over Territory.......2
C. Key Concepts.............................................................................3
D. Other Spaces, incl. the Global Commons..........................................................................4
II. Title to territory.............................................................................5
A. The Classical Modes of Acquiring Territory....................................................................5
1. Accretion........................................................................................ 5
2. Conquest/subjugation....................................................................5
3. Cession........................................................................................... 6
1. Occupation..................................................................................... 6
5. (Acquisitive) Prescription..............................................................7
B. Other modes of acquiring territory....................................................................................8
III. Global Commons..........................................................................8
A. High Seas..............................................................................................................................8
B. Seabed...................................................................................................................................9
C. Antarctica.............................................................................................................................9
D. The Arctic.............................................................................................................................9
E. Outer Space........................................................................................................................10
Reading............................................................................................ 12
I. Overview
1 The ‘Race to the North Pole’: a new scramble for Africa?
Competition for remaining territory among the Great Powers
‘The superior races have a right vis-à-vis the inferior races’ (Ferry)
The Berlin Conference (1884)
A. ‘Territory’
2 Territory as an essential characteristic of statehood: Article 1, 1933 Montevideo
Convention
3 States have (territorial) sovereignty over their territory. Island of Palmas (1928) 2 RIAA
829, 838-39.
1
