Part III General International Law, Ch.25 Cultural Heritage and State Succession

Subject(s):

International responsibility — State succession

This chapter describes the relationship between the evolving international law regime for the protection of cultural heritage and the theory and practice of State succession. State succession in respect of cultural heritage has usually been associated with the allocation and division of movable cultural treasures following territorial transfers. Hence, much of the doctrinal effort has focused on the principles and criteria governing the passing of State cultural property and attempted to respond to the topical question of to whom cultural property belongs. The chapter then looks at the codified sources of the law on State succession. It also examines the consequences of State succession relating to distinct pre-existing legal situations: State archives and property; international cultural heritage obligations arising from treaties and customary international law; and international responsibility for cultural heritage wrongs committed prior to the date of succession.