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Summary

The previous chapter described the extent of a state’s physical territory; this chapter looks at how far a state’s legal power extends. As will be seen, international law places certain limits on the right of a state to make, apply and enforce its laws – its jurisdiction – and these limits are considered in Section 6.2. International law also recognises two principal bars to the exercise of that jurisdiction: diplomatic immunity and state immunity; these are covered in Sections 6.3 and 6.4. Two other bars to jurisdiction, namely special mission immunity and the foreign act of state doctrine, are also briefly covered in Sections 6.6 and 6.7.

This article reviews the history and politics of the English foreign act of State and non-justiciability doctrines in light of recent judgments in Belhaj and Rahmatullah. It argues that the doctrines have a political unconscious—a term borrowed from literary theorist Fredric Jameson—and that an appreciation of this should inform the Supreme Court's approach to the forthcoming appeals.

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6 - Jurisdiction and immunities

Summary

THE POLITICAL UNCONSCIOUS OF THE ENGLISH FOREIGN ACT OF STATE AND NON-JUSTICIABILITY DOCTRINE(S)

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6 - Jurisdiction and immunities

Summary

THE POLITICAL UNCONSCIOUS OF THE ENGLISH FOREIGN ACT OF STATE AND NON-JUSTICIABILITY DOCTRINE(S)