Public Law Studies Quarterly

International Law and the Application of the "Unwilling or Unable State" Test in the Syrian Conflict

Document Type : Article

Authors

Alireza Norouzi 1
Irajr Rezaeenezhad 2
karren rohani 3

1 Ph.D. Student in International Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Azad Islamic University of Qaemshahr, Qaemshahr, Iran

2 Assistant Prof., Department of International Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Azad Islamic University of Chalus, Chalus, Iran

3 Assistant Prof., Department of International Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Azad Islamic University of Qaemshahr, Qaemshahr, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2021.312495.2607
Abstract
The concept of "unwilling or unable state" was recently introduced in the discourse of international law and international relations. In fact, the revival of this concept is due to the increasing attacks and threats of non-governmental actors in the sovereign realm of governments, and in contrast, some of these governments are incapable of preventing or deterring the activities of terrorist groups. There are shortcomings and ambiguities in the scope of this criterion, which in turn can impose great costs on international peace and security. This paper intends to define the criterion of reluctance or inability by providing a precise framework, and then critically examines the obstacles to the acceptance of this criterion, and in particular the US interpretation of the use of force in the Syrian conflict. It is argued that this criterion does not apply in the case of Syria because existing international law does not allow for legitimate defense outside the domestic territory, where the host government is reluctant or incapable of dealing with non-state actors Unless expressly authorized by the Security Council or approved by the host Government. Nor has a customary norm been established in this regard.

Keywords

international law
non-state actors
Syria conflict
unwilling or unable test
use of force

  1. English

    1. A) Articles
    2. Corten, Olivier (2016), “The Unwilling or Unable’ test: Has it been, and Could it be, Accepted?”, Leiden Journal of International Law, Vol. 29, pp. 777–799.
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Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 53, Issue 4
Winter 2024
Winter 2024
Pages 2135-2157

  • Receive Date 02 November 2020
  • Revise Date 11 January 2021
  • Accept Date 19 April 2021

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