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    Opublikowane: 2026-02-23
    Tom 14 Nr 2 (2025)

    What Principles in What Proceedings? The Use and Development of General Principles of Law in the ICJ’s Advisory vs Contentious Jurisprudence

    Marija Dordeska
    Polish Review of International and European Law
    Dział: Artykuły
    DOI https://doi.org/10.21697/2025.14.2.01

    Abstrakt

    The International Court of Justice (ICJ), and its predecessor, the Permanent Court of International Justice (together referred to as the Court), have consistently identified and relied upon general principles of law, the third source of international law codified in Article 38(1)(c) of the ICJ Statute (general principles). Despite their frequent invocation in the Court’s jurisprudence, the nature and operation of general principles – particularly in advisory proceedings – remain insufficiently examined. Alongside its contentious jurisdiction, the World Court exercises an advisory function at the request of the organs of the United Nations, raising the question whether general principles are employed differently in advisory opinions than in contentious cases.

    This article addresses that question through an empirical and inductive analysis of the Court’s jurisprudence. It challenges the prevailing assumption that general principles invoked in advisory opinions are inherently more abstract or merely foundational, while those developed in contentious cases are more concrete or operational. Although contentious proceedings continue to dominate the identification and elaboration of general principles, the article demonstrates that advisory opinions contribute to the development of the third source of international law more than it is often acknowledged. In particular, where advisory opinions are adversarial in nature, i.e., arising from underlying legal disputes between States, the Court applies and develops general principles in a manner closely analogous to its approach in contentious cases.

    Słowa kluczowe:

    General Principles of Law, General Principles, International Court of Justice,, Permanent Court of International Justice, Advisory Opinions, Contentious Decisions, Article 38(1)(c) of the ICJ Statute, International Jurisprudence

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    Zasady cytowania

    Dordeska, M. (2026). What Principles in What Proceedings? The Use and Development of General Principles of Law in the ICJ’s Advisory vs Contentious Jurisprudence. Polish Review of International and European Law, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.21697/2025.14.2.01

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