Ian Brownlie
Encyclopedia
Sir Ian Brownlie, CBE
, QC
, FBA
(19 September 1932 – 3 January 2010) was a British
practising barrister, specialising in international law
. After an education at Hertford College, Oxford
, he was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn
in 1958 and was a tenant at Blackstone Chambers
from 1983 until his death on 3 January 2010.
During his academic career he taught at the University of Leeds
, the University of Nottingham
, and Wadham College, Oxford
(where he was a Fellow). He was a professor of international law at the London School of Economics
between 1976 and 1980. From 1980 to 1999, he was Chichele Professor of Public International Law
and a Fellow of All Souls College
at the University of Oxford
; he was appointed a Distinguished Fellow of All Souls in 2004.
He served as an advisor to United States President
Jimmy Carter
during the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis. The cases in which he argued before the International Court of Justice
include Nicaragua v. United States, Nauru v. Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro, the Pedra Branca dispute
, Libya v. United Kingdom, Libya v. United States, and Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda. He also argued several important cases before the European Court of Human Rights
, including Cyprus v. Turkey
. He also represented Amnesty International
at the extradition
trial of Chile
an coup-leader
Augusto Pinochet
before the English courts in 1999. He was a member of the United Nations
' International Law Commission
from 1997 until his resignation in 2008.
Brownlie was a Fellow of the British Academy and his memberships included the International Law Association
and the Institut de Droit International
. In 2006, he was awarded the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award for international law. He was knighted
in the 2009 Birthday Honours. Brownlie died in a car accident in Cairo
on 3 January 2010.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, FBA
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
(19 September 1932 – 3 January 2010) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
practising barrister, specialising in international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. After an education at Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
, he was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1958 and was a tenant at Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers is a leading set of barristers chambers in the Temple district of central London. Established in the 1950s, it has 85 tenants, of whom 34 are Silks...
from 1983 until his death on 3 January 2010.
During his academic career he taught at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, and Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
(where he was a Fellow). He was a professor of international law at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
between 1976 and 1980. From 1980 to 1999, he was Chichele Professor of Public International Law
Chichele Professor of Public International Law
One of the statutory Chichele Professorships established at All Souls College, Oxford, this chair was established in 1859 as the Chichele Professor of International Law and Diplomacy. Its name was later changed to the Chichele Professor of Public International Law....
and a Fellow of All Souls College
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
; he was appointed a Distinguished Fellow of All Souls in 2004.
He served as an advisor to United States President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
during the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis. The cases in which he argued before the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
include Nicaragua v. United States, Nauru v. Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro, the Pedra Branca dispute
Pedra Branca dispute
The Pedra Branca dispute was a territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia over several islets at the eastern entrance to the Singapore Strait, namely Pedra Branca , Middle Rocks and South Ledge...
, Libya v. United Kingdom, Libya v. United States, and Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda. He also argued several important cases before the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
, including Cyprus v. Turkey
Cyprus v. Turkey
Cyprus v. Turkey is a case raised by Cyprus against Turkey in 1994 and decided on merits by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in 2001. It concerns the situation existing in northern Cyprus after 1974 partition of the island.-Judgment:On the accountability, the Court held, by...
. He also represented Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
at the extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
trial of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an coup-leader
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
before the English courts in 1999. He was a member of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' International Law Commission
International Law Commission
The International Law Commission was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 for the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification."It holds an annual session at the United Nations Office at Geneva....
from 1997 until his resignation in 2008.
Brownlie was a Fellow of the British Academy and his memberships included the International Law Association
International Law Association
The International Law Association is a non-profit organization based in Great Britain that — according to its 2004 constitution — promotes "the study, clarification and development of international law" and "the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law."The ILA...
and the Institut de Droit International
Institut de droit international
The Institut de droit international is an organization devoted to the study and development of international law, whose membership comprises the world's leading public international lawyers...
. In 2006, he was awarded the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award for international law. He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2009 Birthday Honours. Brownlie died in a car accident in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
on 3 January 2010.
Publications
Several of Brownlie's published works are considered standard texts in their fields:- International Law and the Use of Force between States (Oxford doctoral thesis, 1963)
- Principles of Public International Law (1966) (7th ed., 2008)
- Basic Documents in International Law (1967) (6th ed., 2008)
- Basic Documents on Human Rights (1971) (5th ed., 2006)
- African Boundaries: A Legal and Diplomatic Encyclopedia (1979)
- System of the Law of Nations: State Responsibility (1983)
External links
- Sir Ian Brownlie - Daily Telegraph obituary