Prohibited Force The Meaning of ‘Use of Force' in International Law

Prohibited 'use of force' under article 2(4) of the UN Charter and customary international law has until now not been clearly defined, despite its central importance in the international legal order and for international peace and security. This book accordingly offers an original framework to identify prohibited uses of force, including those that use emerging technology or take place in newer military domains such as outer space. In doing so, Erin Pobjie explains the emergence of the customary prohibition of the use of force and its relationship with article 2(4) and identifies the elements of a prohibited 'use of force'. In a major contribution to the scholarship, the book proposes a framework that defines a 'use of force' in international law and applies this framework to illustrative case studies to demonstrate its usefulness as a tool for legal scholars, practitioners and students. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Introduction; Part I. Treaty vs Custom: Introduction 1. How and when did the customary prohibition of the use of force emerge? The status of the customary norm pre-1945; 2. Baxter's paradox and the customary prohibition of the use of force; 3. The relationship between the customary prohibition of the use of force and article 2(4) of the UN Charter; Part II. Elements of Prohibited Force: Introduction 4. Contextual elements of a prohibited 'use of force' – international relations; 5. Elements of 'use of force' – Means; 6. Elements of 'use of force' – Effects, gravity and intention; Part III. Defining Prohibited Force: 7. Anomalous examples of 'use of force' and non-'use of force' under article 2(4) of the UN Charter; 8. The meaning of prohibited 'use of force' in international law; Conclusion: a definition of prohibited 'use of force'; Bibliography; Index.

Erin Pobjie is Assistant Professor at the University of Essex and a Senior Research Affiliate at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. She is a member of the International Law Association's Committee on the Use of Force. She has given invited talks at the International Criminal Court, German Federal Foreign Office and Italian Ministry of Defence and is admitted to practise as a Barrister and Solicitor at the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia.