Against the backdrop of decolonization and the territorial adjustments of the 1990s, the issue of state succession continues to be a vital and complex focal point for public international law. This book offers a pragmatic re-assessment of the foundations of the law of succession, assessing the attempts, and failures to achieve a codified body of law.

Matthew Craven is Professor of International Law, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

• Introduction


• Part One: Critical Diagnostics


• 1: What's Wrong with State Succession?


• 2: A Brief History


• 3: Succession, Identity and Continuity


• 4: The Ends of Succession


• Part Two: Codification and Decolonization


• 5: The Move to Codification


• 6: Initial Positions


• A) The ILC Sub-Committee


• B) The ILA


• 7: The Waldock Reports


• A) From Contract to Status


• B) New States


• C) Residual Categories


• D) Real Treaties


• 8: Final Moves: The Vienna Conference


• Part Three: New Beginnings, New Ends


• 9: Beyond Decolonization: 1989 -


• 10: The Perils of Formalism


• 11: Treaty Continuity


• 12: Being Pragmatic?


• Conclusion