The Legality of the Use of Force for the Protection of Nationals Abroad: Review from the Accumulation of Events Theory.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20100
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0105:Law and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University of Economics and Law
• Principal Investigator: Kira Satoru 大阪経済法科大学, 国際学部, 助教 (80913227)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 自衛権 / 武力行使 / 在外自国民保護 / 累積理論 / 武力攻撃

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined whether or not the acts of violence against the nationals abroad constitute an armed attack, based on the view that the use of force for the protection of the nationals abroad is not an exception to the principle of non-use of force, but rather within the framework of the right of self-defence. Taking the 'unwilling or unable' doctrine as a starting point, it examined the cases in which acts of violence against nationals abroad constituted an armed attack. Furthermore, from the accumulation of events theory perspective, the study has shown that even if the scale of violence against the nationals abroad is not large, if those actions are repeated and continuous, it constitutes an armed attack.

Free Research Field

国際法学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、在外自国民保護のための武力行使について、武力不行使原則の例外とするか、それとも、自衛権の枠内で捉えるかという対立において、自衛権の枠内で検討することの妥当性を示すとともに、在外自国民に対する侵害行為が反復して発生した場合には、それらが武力攻撃を構成する場合があることを示した点にある。
また、社会的意義としては、今後、在外自国民に対して侵害行為が発生した場合に、自国の軍隊を派遣する際の法的根拠を提示できたことである。