International and Comparative Law Review

Int. & Com. Law Rev.

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> Despite the ubiquitous coverage of the Libyan revolution throughout the last six months, very little has been said regarding the legal foundations for the rebels’ actions. Within the international legal framework, it must be asked whether the Libyan people even had a legal right in the first place to overthrow the Gaddafi regime. In fact, the existence of a right to rebel under international law is very much an unsettled matter. Among the sources of international law, a right to rebel is not enumerated in any of the principal international instruments. In truth, the only significant mention of the right is a passing but ambiguous reference in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A customary right of revolution is similarly absent, as many nations criminalize treason and other insurrectionary activities. Instead, if such a right exists in international law, it must derive from the well-enshrined right of self-determination. Th is right would thus constitute an additional exception to international law’s general prohibition on the use force, standing alongside self-defense and Security Council peace enforcement. Yet establishing a right of revolution would mark a significant departure from these other exemptions. In essence, the right of revolution represents an allowance for non-state actors to resort to force unilaterally for the protection of human rights. For this very reason, contemporary international law likely does not recognize a popular right to revolt. In light of international law’s fi rm restrictions on lawful uses of force, there is no evidence that the law currently acknowledges a novel exception for the individual enforcement of human rights. Th us, in the absence of a change in the law, the proper legal remedy for the Libyan people was not rebellion but rather an appeal to the international community.</abstract>

Abstract

Keywords

<article-title>The Libyan Uprising and the Right of Revolution in International Law</article-title>

The Libyan Uprising and the Right of Revolution in International Law

{"article-title":"The Libyan Uprising and the Right of Revolution in International Law"}

International and Comparative Law Review is covered by the following services: <UL> <LI>Baidu Scholar </LI> <LI>Cabell's Journalytics </LI> <LI>CNKI Scholar (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) </LI> <LI>CNPIEC - cnpLINKer </LI> <LI>Dimensions </LI> <LI>EBSCO </LI> <LI>ExLibris </LI> <LI>Google Scholar </LI> <LI>J-Gate </LI> <LI>JournalTOCs </LI> <LI>KESLI-NDSL (Korean National Discovery for Science Leaders) </LI> <LI>MyScienceWork </LI> <LI>Naver Academic </LI> <LI>Naviga (Softweco) </LI> <LI>QOAM (Quality Open Access Market) </LI> <LI>ReadCube </LI> <LI>SCILIT </LI> <LI>SCImago (SJR) </LI> <LI>SCOPUS </LI> <LI>Semantic Scholar </LI> <LI>TDNet </LI> <LI>Ulrich's Periodicals Directory/ulrichsweb </LI> <LI>WanFang Data </LI> <LI>WorldCat (OCLC) </LI> <LI>X-MOL </LI></UL>

International and Comparative Law Review ist in den folgenden Services indiziert: <UL> <LI>Baidu Scholar </LI> <LI>Cabell's Journalytics </LI> <LI>CNKI Scholar (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) </LI> <LI>CNPIEC - cnpLINKer </LI> <LI>Dimensions </LI> <LI>EBSCO </LI> <LI>ExLibris </LI> <LI>Google Scholar </LI> <LI>J-Gate </LI> <LI>JournalTOCs </LI> <LI>KESLI-NDSL (Korean National Discovery for Science Leaders) </LI> <LI>MyScienceWork </LI> <LI>Naver Academic </LI> <LI>Naviga (Softweco) </LI> <LI>QOAM (Quality Open Access Market) </LI> <LI>ReadCube </LI> <LI>SCILIT </LI> <LI>SCImago (SJR) </LI> <LI>SCOPUS </LI> <LI>Semantic Scholar </LI> <LI>TDNet </LI> <LI>Ulrich's Periodicals Directory/ulrichsweb </LI> <LI>WanFang Data </LI> <LI>WorldCat (OCLC) </LI> <LI>X-MOL </LI></UL>

Editor-in-Chief dr. Ondrej Hamulak, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic Editorial Advisory Board prof. Marie-Elisabeth Baudoin, University of Auvergne, FRANCE prof. Andrzej Bisztyga, University of Zielona Góra, POLAND prof. Michael Bogdan, Lund University, SWEDEN dr. Martin Faix, Palacký University Olomouc, CZECH REPUBLIC assoc. prof. Vlastimil Fiala, Palacký University Olomouc, CZECH REPUBLIC dr. Miluše Hrnčiříková, Palacký University Olomouc, CZECH REPUBLIC prof. Massimo Iovane, University of Naples Federico II, ITALY prof. Tanel Kerikmäe, Tallinn Law School, ESTONIA dr. Michal Malacka, Palacký University Olomouc, CZECH REPUBLIC prof. Joseph Marko, University of Graz, AUSTRIA prof. Fabrizio Marrella, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, ITALY prof. James E. Moliterno, Washington & Lee University, USA prof. Bernd Wieser, Faculty of Law, University of Graz, AUSTRIA prof. Thomas Ratka, Danube University Krems, AUSTRIA assoc. prof. Václav Stehlík, Palacký University Olomouc, CZECH REPUBLIC assoc. prof. Armin Stolz, University of Graz, AUSTRIA prof. Hennie Strydom, University of Johannesburg, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA assoc. prof. Naděžda Šišková, Palacký University Olomouc, CZECH REPUBLIC assoc. prof. Marek Števček, Comenius University in Bratislava, SLOVAKIA prof. Erika M. Wagner, Johannes Kepler University Linz, AUSTRIA Publisher De Gruyter Poland Bogumiła Zuga 32A Str. 01-811 Warsaw, Poland T: +48 22 701 50 15 Contact: <A href="mailto:iclr@upol.cz">iclr@upol.cz</A>

<DIV align=left> International and Comparative Law Review is a peer-reviewed legal journal published by the Faculty of Law, Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic) in cooperation with Johannes Kepler Universität in Linz (Austria) and Karl-Franzens Universität in Graz (Austria). The articles are published mostly in English; occasionally contributions in German or French may be also accepted. The journal has been published since 2001, peer-reviewed is since 2005. It is issued twice a year. The aim of ICLR is to reflect expert research in the field of International law and EU Law as well as in legal orders both of the Czech Republic and other Member States of the European Union. Here the special emphasis is given to the legal systems of Central European Countries. The journal is comparative by its focus and with respect to this perspective it deals with all areas of law. Rejection Rate: <UL> <LI>40% </LI></UL> Why subscribe and read <UL> <LI>Significant contribution to the legal studies in the field of international law, transnational law, EU law and comparative law as well as in related fields of research </LI> <LI>Contact with the up-to-date research </LI> <LI>Contact with the group of international of scholars </LI></UL> Why submit <UL> <LI>Fair and constructive double-blind peer review </LI> <LI>Fast and efficient publication process </LI> <LI>Commitment to the quality of every article </LI> <LI>Wide dissemination of content </LI></UL> Target group <UL> <LI>researchers and experts in the field of International law and EU Law </LI></UL> Archiving Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in <A href="https://www.portico.org/">Portico</A> - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections. Plagiarism Policy The editorial board is participating in a growing community of <A href="https://www.crossref.org/services/similarity-check/">Similarity Check System's</A> users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. </DIV>

<DIV align=left> Open Access Statement The journal is an Open Access journal that allows a free unlimited access to all its contents without any restrictions upon publication to all users. </DIV>

International and Comparative Law Review

The Libyan Uprising and the Right of Revolution in International Law

Thomas Keenan
Thomas Keenan

Published Online: 24 Jan 2018

Volume & Issue: Volume 11 (2011) - Issue 1 (June 2011)

Page range: 7 - 32

Journal & Issue Details

International and Comparative Law Review

PDF Preview

Recent Articles

International and Comparative Law Review

The Libyan Uprising and the Right of Revolution in International Law

Thomas KeenanThomas Keenan

Published Online: 24 Jan 2018

Volume & Issue: Volume 11 (2011) - Issue 1 (June 2011)

Page range: 7 - 32

Journal & Issue Details

International and Comparative Law Review

PDF Preview

Recent Articles

Thomas Keenan
Thomas Keenan