Territory is crucial in determining the sovereignty of a State. As has been noted in international legal doctrine, ‘a State without a territory is not possible’. This does not mean territoriality is the single criterion of personality in international law; however Statehood without a reasonably defined geographical base is inconceivable. The theory of Territory examines the concept of territorial acquisition such as conquest, cession, secession and terra nullius. It defines the role of Territory in the sovereignty of a particular State. Discussion also focuses on territorial exclusivity and territorial sovereignty of a State wherein the boundaries, the jurisdiction and the right to self-determination of the State are examined. Further discussion also focuses on other existing issues regarding the extent of Territory.
This Research Guide is intended as a starting point for research on Territory. It provides the basic legal materials available in the Peace Palace Library, both in print and electronic format. Handbooks, leading articles, bibliographies, periodicals, serial publications and documents of interest are presented in the Selective Bibliography section. Links to the PPL Catalogue are inserted. The Library's subject heading (keyword) Territory is instrumental for searching through the Catalogue. Special attention is given to our subscriptions on databases, e-journals, e-books and other electronic resources. Finally, this Research Guide features links to relevant websites and other online resources of particular interest.
Sources of international law
- Schofield, R.N. and E. Evans (eds.), Arabian Boundaries: New Documents 1966-1975, Slough, Cambridge Archive Editions, 2009.
- Schofield, R.N. (ed.), Arabian Boundaries: Primary Documents 1853-1957, Farnham Common, Archive Editions, 1998-1993.
Treaties
- League of Nations Treaty Series
- Parry, C. and B.H.W. Hill (eds.), The Consolidated Treaty Series, Dobbs Ferry, Oceana Publications, 1961-1986.
- United Nations Treaty Series Online
Case-law
A. Permanent Court of International Justice
- Status of Eastern Carelia
- Jaworzina (Polish-Czechoslovakian Frontier)
- Monastery of Saint-Naoum (Albanian Frontier)
- Interpretation of Article 3‚ Paragraph 2‚ of the Treaty of Lausanne (Frontier between Turkey and Iraq)
- Lighthouses in Crete and Samos
- Free Zones of Upper Savoy and the District of Gex (France/Switzerland)
- Legal Status of Eastern Greenland
→ For texts PCIJ case-law, click here.
B. International Court of Justice
- Minquiers and Ecrehos (France/United Kingdom)
- Sovereignty over Certain Frontier Land (Belgium/Netherlands
- Arbitral Award Made by the King of Spain on 23 December 1906 (Honduras/Nicaragua)
→ For texts ICJ case-law, click here.
C. International Arbitral Tribunals
- Arbitral Award between Portugal and the United Kingdom, regarding the Dispute about the Sovereignty over the Island of Bulama, and over a part of the Mainland opposite to it.
- Award in regard to the Validity of the Treaty of Limits between Costa Rica and Nicaragua of 15 July 1858
Decisions of 22 March 1888, 30 September 1897, 20 December 1897, 22 March 1898, 26 July 1899
- The Chamizal Case (Mexico, United States), 15 June 1911
→ More case-law to be found in Reports of International Arbitral Awards and International Law Reports.
UN Declarations and Resolutions
The resolutions and decisions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council may provide valuable information on territorial questions. Although they cannot themselves constitute international law or serve as conclusive evidence of a rule of customary law, such resolutions do have value in providing evidence of existing or emerging law. This point of view has been acknowledged by the International Law Commission.
As every Member State has been recognized and has a vote in the UN General Assembly, finding General Assembly resolutions that passed unanimously or near-unanimously may serve as an excellent starting point in the legal research process. Pay attention to the language of the resolution. Those with firm obligations versus those that are merely aspirational or advisory in nature are more likely to be considered valuable as evidence of customary international law.
→ Official Document System Search. ODS is the UN's Official Document System. You can search for UN declarations, resolutions and other documents by keywords, then narrow your search.
→ Start Your Research: (7) Resolutions and Decisions of International Organizations.
Reference works
- Barberis, J.A., El territorio del Estado y la soberanía territorial, Buenos Aires, Editorial Ábaco de Rodolfo Depalma, 2003.
- Distefano, G., L'ordre international entre légalité et effectivité: le titre juridique dans le contentieux territorial, Paris, Pedone, 2002.
- Ezenwajiaku, J.C., State Territory and International Law, Abingdon; New York, Routledge, 2021.
- Giraudeau, G., Les différends territoriaux devant le juge international: entre droit et transaction, Leiden; Boston, Martinus Nijhoff, 2013.
- Kohen, M.G. (ed.), Territoriality and International Law, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, 2016.
- Prescott, V. and G.D. Triggs, International Frontiers and Boundaries: Law, Politics and Geography, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff, 2008.
- Shaw, M.N. (ed.), Title to Territory, Aldershot, Ashgate/Dartmouth, 2005.
- Storey, David. Territories : The Claiming of Space. Third edition, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2025.
- Tarchichi, M.H., Le droit international de la délimitation des frontières, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2021.
- Vidmar, J., Territorial Status in International Law, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2024.
Recent books and peer-reviewed articles
- Blomley, Nicholas K. Territory : New Trajectories in Law. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2023.
- Dodds, K., The New Border Wars: The Conflicts that will Define Our Future, London, Diversion Books, 2021.
- Gonesh, E.G., The Border Dispute between Suriname and Guyana: Reflections on a Contested Territorial Triangle, Edam, LM Publishers, 2023.
- Kalala, Tshibangu, and Modeste Bahati Lukwebo. La République démocratique du Congo et ses 11 frontières internationales : géopolitique et droit international. Bruylant, 2023.
- Kilibarda, Pavle. Recognition of States in International Law. Oxford University Press, 2024.
- Lythgoe, Gail. The Rebirth of Territory. Cambridge University Press, 2024.
- Miklasová, Júlia. Secession in International Law with a Special Reference to the Post-Soviet Space. Brill Nijhoff, 2024.
- Serita, K., The Territory of Japan: Its History and Legal Basis, Second Edition, Singapore; Berlin, Springer, 2023.
- Sohode, Constant. Le droit de la délimitation des frontières maritimes africaines. L’Harmattan, 2024.
- Núñez, J.E., Territorial Disputes and State Sovereignty: International Law and Politics, Abingdon; New York, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2021.
- Siniver, A., The International Arbitration of Territorial Disputes, Oxford, OUP, 2024.
- Yanagihara, Masaharu, and Atsuko Kanehara, editors. Japan’s Territory under International Law. Brill/Nijhoff, 2024.
For all peer-reviewed articles in the PPL Catalogue, click here.
Periodicals, serial publications
- Boundary and Territory Briefing
- IBRU International Territory Briefing Series
- International Boundary Studies Series
Atlases, Geography, Encyclopedias
- Anderson, E.W., International Boundaries: A Geopolitical Atlas, London, TSO, 2003.
- Biger, G., The Encyclopedia of International Boundaries, New York, 1995.
- Brownlie, I., African Boundaries: a Legal and Diplomatic Encyclopaedia, London, C. Hurst & Company, 1979.
- Calvert, P. (et al.) (ed), Border and Territorial Disputes of the World, Fourth Edition, London, Harper, 2004.
- Foucher, M., Fronts et frontières: un tour du monde géopolitique, Nouv. éd. entièrement ref., Paris, Fayard, 1991.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Territory, Abandonment, by Marcelo G. Kohen.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Territory, Discovery, by Marcelo G. Kohen and Mamadou Hébié.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Territory, Lease, by Yaël Ronen.
- Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Territorial Integrity and Political Independence, by Samuel K.N. Blay.
- Répertoire de droit international: Frontière – Jean-Marc SOREL – Juillet 2017.
- Sovereign Limits [More info]