ICLQ Annual Lecture 2024: Non-Forcible Measures and the Law of Self-Defence

This year's ICLQ Annual Lecture was given by Professor Russell Buchan of the University of Reading, based on his article 'Non-Forcible Measures and the Law of Self-Defence', published in Vol 72(1) ICLQ.

Conventionally, the right of self-defence is presented as an exception to the principle of non-use of force, thus implying that it is only engaged when states threaten or use force to resist an armed attack. This lecture rejects that conventional wisdom and argues that self-defence is a general right under international law and as such can be invoked to justify all measures necessary to repel an armed attack, regardless of whether they are forcible or non-forcible in nature, relying on analysis of the genesis of the right to self-defence under customary international law, the text of Article 51 of the UN Charter, the structure of the UN Charter and State practice on Article 51.

The event, chaired by the ICLQ General Editor Professor Alex Mills, provided the opportunity to present this year's Early Career Prize to Dr Lewis Graham, for his article 'Liberty and its Exceptions' published in Vol 72(2) ICLQ. Dr Graham presented his article and his wider research in conversation with Professor Mills and was presented with a certificate along with £250 worth of Cambridge University Press books of his choice.

Chair
Professor Alex Mills, ICLQ General Editor

Speakers
Professor Russell Buchan, Professor of International Law at the University of Reading

Early Career Prize Winner
Dr Lewis Graham, Law Society Fellow in Law at Wadham College, University of Oxford

More information: https://www.biicl.org/events/11850/ic...