Jus Cogens and Obligations Erga Omnes
The chapter analyzes the nature and meaning of peremptory norms in international law, as well as their relationship with obligations towards the international community as a whole.
Peremptory norms (jus cogens) in international law : historical development, criteria, present status
This book by a comparatively young Finnish scholar indeed has gigantic dimensions: over eight hundred pages! The bibliography covers 48 pages and contains 991 items: books and articles in several languages, predominantly English, but also German, with other languages occurring rather sporadically. There is no list of source materials. Treaties, cases and UN resolutions are found in footnotes. The index, only four pages, seems rather spare. The author embarked upon one of the most difficult problems of international law. It had been argued for a long time, by numerous scholars, that the very notion of jus cogens is essentially alien to international law, all its norms belonging to jus dispositivum. This attitude, however, became obsolete when the International Law Commission introduced the jus cogens notion into its draft articles on the law of treaties. Jus cogens acquired nearly general recognition after being inserted into the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, adopted in 1969 (Article 53 as to invalidity and, corollary to it, Article 64 as to termination of treaties). The notion was later introduced into other treaties of a codificatory character, especially the 1986 Convention on Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations. However, there were still several dissenters when the 1969 Convention was drafted, among both participants in the Vienna Conference (France) and publicists (Schwarzenberger).
Prophets praying for, or preying on people’s faith: A reflection on prophetic ministry in the South African context
In mainline churches, the ministry of prophecy or the prophetic ministry involves the proclamation of the gospel. This, in turn, is related to the every-believer ministry. However, there is now a resurgence of the prophetic ministry as a special office as evidenced by the establishment of neo-prophetic churches. This article argues that neo-prophetic churches are tapping into people’s longing for the fresh divine word to speak directly into their personal situations. The article also probes whether neo-prophets in the prophetic activities are not also preying on people’s faith.