Chapter 8 (State Responsibility) Notes of Public International Law
Chapter 8 State Responsibility a Concept and Nature of State Responsibility 1. Introduction State responsibility refers to the legal consequences when a state commits an internationally wrongful act. This includes breaches of treaties, customary international law, or failure to fulfill obligations. Definition of State Responsibility Ian Brownlie : "Responsibility is concerned with the incidence and consequences of illegal acts and the payment of compensation for loss caused." L. Oppenheim : "Any injury to another state, committed by the head of state or government, in violation of international legal duty." JG Starke : "Any wrongful act committed by a state, breaching the international obligation which was created from the contract." Historical Background Pre-20th Century : Initially, state responsibility focused on protecting foreign nationals. The Chorzów Factory Case (1928, PCIJ) : Est...