Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes: Current State and Perspectives

Abstract

Closely linked to the basic issue of compulsory jurisdiction is the question of the efficacy of the specific methods of peaceful settlement of international disputes. As a technique of dispute-settlement, fact-finding has lately been utilized in pursuance of the prevalence of common and superior values, such as the search for justice and the safeguard of democracy and the rule of law. Two experiences of the search for ad hoc solutions may be singled out, given their contribution to contemporary techniques of dispute settlement: the process of Contadora, and of recourse to guarantor States. In the framework of the interrelationship between peaceful settlement and the renunciation of the use or threat of force in international relations, special attention is to be given to the endeavours of prevention of disputes at international level. Keywords:ad hoc solutions; compulsory jurisdiction; international disputes; international relations; judicial settlement; peaceful settlement; rule of law; use of force