The Historical Development of the Doctrines of Attribution and Due Diligence in International Law

Abstract

The history of the international law of state responsibility is a dynamic one, in particular in relation to the principles of attribution and due diligence. It reflects how human beings conceived their community and the community of others. The ancient and medieval collective was replaced by the absolute ruler, which then had to give way to the modern constitutional state. The law of state responsibility always adapted more or less swiftly to each momentous change in the nature of the state and its relations with its members.

Keywords: international law, state responsibility, human rights, Grotius, due diligence, legal history, Völkerrecht, droit international