Title to territory in international law; a temporal analysis

In seeking to foster preconditions for maintenance of order, international law lays great emphasis on state sovereignty - guaranteeing states special protection against threats to their territorial integrity. However the democration of territory in most post-colonial states is extremely controversial since these physical dimensions were usually established during European colonial rule. The Roman doctrine of uti possidetis was called upon the add the thrust of legal sancity and prevent challenge to boundaries bequeathed to the new ruler. By charting its progress through different temporal phases this book demonstrates that this doctrine evolved to suit political rather than legal tenets.