Cover of book: Neutrality in the Age of the UN Charter
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Neutrality in the Age of the UN Charter

With Special Consideration of the Ukraine Conflict
Editors:
Publisher:
 2026

Summary

The war in Ukraine has tested core elements of contemporary international law. Against this backdrop, the continued viability of neutrality under international law has come under renewed scrutiny. This volume brings together experts from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy to examine the issue from the perspectives of international, public, and European law, as well as history. They conclude that, within the United Nations peace-law framework, states are obliged to show solidarity with the victim of aggression, and that neutrality may ultimately jeopardize even the security of neutral states.
With contributions by Markus Beham | Thomas Cottier | Ulrike Haider-Quercia | Peter Hilpold | Ralph Janik | Marco Jorio | Markus Mohler | Stefan Oeter | René Rhinow | Urs Saxer | Daniel Woker

Bibliographic data

Edition
1/2026
Copyright Year
2026
ISBN-Print
978-3-7560-3546-5
ISBN-Online
978-3-7489-6610-4
Publisher
Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series
Völkerrecht, Europarecht und Vergleichendes Öffentliches Recht – International Law, European Law and Comparative Public Law
Volume
34
Language
English
Pages
433
Product Type
Edited Book

Table of contents

ChapterPages
  1. Download chapter (PDF)
    1. Foreword
  2. Introduction 9 - 16 Download chapter (PDF)
  3. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. I. Introduction
    3. II. Fundamentals of general international law – with particular reference to Hague law
      1. 1. Introduction
      2. 2. Moscow Memorandum and Vienna State Treaty – both from 1955
      3. 3. The constitutional dimension
    5. IV. The five phases of the development of Austrian neutrality law
    6. V. The effects of EU accession on Austrian neutrality law
    7. VI. Current Austrian practice in the context of the EU and in relation to NATO
    8. VII. Swiss neutrality
    9. VIII. The Sky Shield Initiative (European Sky Shield Initiative – ESSI)
    10. IX. Conclusions: Austria and Switzerland's neutrality is currently less a matter of international law than of autopoietic nature.
  4. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. 1. Introduction
    3. 2. Neutrality as a triangular relationship
    4. 3. Neutrality is based on trust
    5. 4. The precarious situation of ordinary neutrality
    6. 5. Lonely permanent neutrality
    7. 6. A colourful policy of neutrality
    8. 7. Renunciation of permanent neutrality
    9. 8. Conclusion
  5. Authors:
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    1. Introduction
    2. I. Where does the right to neutrality come from?
      1. 1. 1966 (Rhodesia)
      2. 2. 1990 (Iraq)
      3. 3. 1998/1999 (Kosovo)
      4. 4. 2002 (Switzerland's accession to the UN)
      1. 1. General
      2. 2. On the "principle of separation" and "qualified neutrality"
      3. 3. On Article 103 of the UN Charter and Article 30 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
    5. IV. On the provisions in the Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA)
      1. 1. Federal Council
      2. 2. The National Council Security Policy Committee (SiK-N)
      3. 3. The Director of International Law at the FDFA at an international law conference
      4. 4. The Council of States' decision on the export of war material on June 11, 2025
      5. 5. The purpose is exclusively the promotion of security-related technology and industrial base (STIB)
      6. 6. The deliberation of the neutrality initiative and the counterproposal in the Council of States on June 19, 2025
      7. 7. The newly aligned 2025 armament policy strategy
      1. 1. In practice
        1. a) A look at its origins
        2. b) Current situation
      3. 3. With regard to other obligations under international law
      4. 4. With regard to ethical responsibility
      5. 5. In relation to the Federal Constitution
      1. 1. On the distinction between military/non-military and economic sanctions
      2. 2. Discrepancies between official statements and conduct
    9. VIII. Reversal of neutrality
    10. IX. Conclusion
  6. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. I. Introduction
    3. II. The beginnings of neutrality
    4. III. Switzerland does not maintain neutrality (14th-17th century)
    5. IV. Switzerland discovers permanent neutrality (1618-1714)
    6. V. Switzerland enjoys its neutrality (1714-1798)
    7. VI. Switzerland loses its neutrality and then regains it (1798-1815)
    8. VII. Switzerland develops its neutrality (1815-1914)
    9. VIII. Switzerland oscillates between integral and differential neutrality (1914-1938)
    10. IX. “Switzerland has maintained its neutrality to a reasonable extent”
    11. X. Switzerland exaggerates its neutrality (1945-1990)
    12. XI. Switzerland doubts its neutrality
    13. XII. What next?
  7. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. 1. Introduction
    3. 2. The neutral countries in the CSCE
    4. 3. CoCom and neutrality
    5. 4. At the UN, inside and yet outside, 1978-82.
    6. 5. Swedish neutrality sui generis
    7. 6. European turning point 1989/90
    8. 7. Economically important to our neighbour, but not politically
    9. 8. 'Geneva' as a substitute for neutral non-participation, 1996-98
    10. 9. Beautiful, rich and discreet Switzerland, not neutral Switzerland, as a role model
    11. 10. Australia
    12. 11. Neutrality as dogma
    13. 12. Ukraine and Trump – the definitive end of neutrality
  8. Authors:
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    1. Summary
    2. 1. Levels of applicability of international law
      1. a) Beginnings: Grotius and neutrality
      2. b) Neutrality and the doctrine of just war
      3. c) Status issues
      4. d) The law of neutrality as a set of norms modifying the law of coexistence
      1. a) On the compatibility of neutrality and international cooperation
      2. b) Prohibition of the use of force and neutrality
      3. c) The system of collective security and neutrality
      4. d) Neutrality and support for the (unlawfully) attacked state
      1. a) The partial dissolution of the right to neutrality in UN coexistence law
      2. b) The impact of the UN system of collective security
      3. c) Neutrality in the event of the failure of the UN system of collective security; Switzerland's conduct
    6. 5. Neutrality and the layer of integration under international law
    7. 6. Conclusion: What remains of neutrality
  9. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. I. Introduction
      1. A. Foundations
      2. B. The War Materials Act
      1. A. WTO Law and National Security
      2. B. The UN Arms Trade Treaty
      3. C. European Law
      1. A. Neutrality in the Constitution
      2. B. Neutrality and the War Materials Act
      3. C. The Hague Conventions of 1907
      1. A. The Paradigm Shift
      2. B. Primacy of the Prohibition of Force
      3. C. Qualified Neutrality
      4. D. Direct Effect of International Law
      5. E. Consistent Interpretation
      6. F. Allocation of Powers
      1. A. Re-exportation of War Materials
      2. B. The Exportation of War Materials
      1. A. Focus on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law
    9. VIII. Uniform Legislation
    10. IX. Defence Cooperation of Neutrals within Europe
  10. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. I. Introduction
      1. The beginnings: de Vattel
      2. The classic law of neutrality: von Martens
      3. War as a sovereign prerogative: Wheaton
      4. Neutrality and legal positivism: Oppenheim
    4. III. From the League of Nations to the Kellogg-Briand Pact
    5. IV. The definitive end of the right to neutrality: the Charter of the United Nations
    6. V. The end of the Cold War: Swan songs for neutrality
    7. VI. 9/11 and Iraq 2003: war, terror and neutrality
    8. VII. Neutrality after 24 February 2022: legal end and (political) comeback?
    9. VIII. Conclusion
  11. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. I. Introductory Remarks
    3. II. Historical Background
      1. A. Austria
      2. B. Finland
      3. C. Sweden
    5. IV. Concluding Remarks
    6. Annex
  12. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. 1. Introduction
      1. a. The constitutional relevance of Irish neutrality
      2. b. Anchoring in the European treaties
      3. c. Contours of an Interpretation of Neutrality in Case Law: The Use of Shannon Airport by the USA
      4. d. The Role of Flexible Neutrality in the EU's Military Support for Ukraine
      5. e. Reform of the Triple Lock and the current Controversies surrounding Irish Neutrality
      1. a. The Emergence of Maltese Neutrality: Geopolitical and Economic Foundations
      2. b. Architecture of International and Constitutional Law: From Bilateral Treaties to Detailed Constitutional Principles
      3. c. Adapting Malta's Commitment to Neutrality within the EU Framework
      4. d. Malta's active Neutrality in the Context of the Ukraine Crisis
      5. e. Current Discussions on the Reorientation of Maltese Neutrality
    5. 4. Outlook: The Future of Europeanized Neutrality in Ireland and Malta
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    1. Abstract
    2. I. Introduction
    3. II. Use of Force and Law: The Prohibition of the Use of Force as a Central Norm of the Modern Order of Maintenance of Peace
      1. 1) Art. 53 VCLT: Prohibition of Use of Force as a Norm of 'jus cogens'
      2. 2) Art. 52 VCLT: Cession of Territory under the Pressure of Unlawful Force
      3. 3) Article 53 VCLT: The Right to Self-Determination as 'jus cogens'
    5. IV. Neutrality vs. Solidarity: The Duties of Third States in Dealing with Violent Territorial Changes
      1. 1) Possible ‘ex post’ Validation of Invalid Peace Treaties by the UN Security Council
      2. 2) Ceasefire Agreement as a Necessary Prelude to any Territorial Disposition
    7. VI. Concluding Thoughts
  14. Authors:
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    1. Abstract
    2. I. Introduction
    3. II. The Peace of Madrid of 1526
      1. A. Prohibition of force
      2. B. Legal consequences for peace negotiations
      3. C. Assessment
      1. A. Ending the use of force and returning annexed territories
      2. B. Application of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
      3. C. Ceasefires
      4. D. Security Council
      5. E. Absence of a conflict of norms
    6. V. Termination of a treaty as ‘law and economics’
    7. VI. Conclusion
  15. Concluding Remarks 425 - 428 Download chapter (PDF)
  16. Authors 429 - 432 Download chapter (PDF)

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