Diss.--Universität Giessen.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1936. / Without thesis note. "Cases cited": p. xv-xx. "Sources cited": p. 225-243.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1936. / Without thesis note. "Cases cited": p. xv-xx. "Sources cited": p. 225-243.

Diplomacy is an ancient concept known to man as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans. Through the passing of time the concept of diplomacy has continuously been developed. The evolution of this concept has followed with the great civilisations of this world. Most notable are the advancements in Europe from the medieval era to the industrial revolution. Diplomacy was first codified in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna. The 1961 Vienna Convention currently regulates the immunities and privileges of the modern diplomat. The immunities range from official acts to the conducting of personal affairs. These immunities protect the diplomat from the foreign state. The extent of these immunities has led to a range of abusive behaviour resulting in controversy. This dissertation sets out a brief historic overview of diplomacy and theories dealing with the discourse of immunities in light of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. A closer look is taken on the privileges and immunities a diplomat enjoys in his personal capacity, his property and his family. Furthermore the development of diplomacy in England and South Africa are discussed. Lastly the Vienna Convention sets out a number of remedies that are able to deter diplomatic agents from abusing their station. However, such remedies alone have proved to be inefficient without the immunities being limited in order to make diplomats accountable for their misconduct. In light of the severity of misconduct by diplomats, a suggestion has been offered for such privileges to be curtailed in order for diplomats to be held accountable for severe crimes committed. As it stands now, diplomats escape liability for heinous crimes such as rape, murder and human trafficking. It is submitted that a re-evaluation of the principles is required. / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

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Thesis (L.L.M (Law)) - Rhodes University, 2009.

Diplomatic immunity is one of the oldest elements of foreign relations, dating back as far as Ancient Greece and Rome. Today, it is a principle that has been codified into the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations regulating past customs and practices. Consuls and international organizations, although their privileges and immunities are similar to diplomatic personnel, do differ and are regulated by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the United Nations International Immunities respectively. These Conventions have been influenced by past practices and by three theories during different era’s namely exterritoriality, personal representation and functional necessity. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations further provides certain immunities and privileges to different levels of diplomatic officials, their staff and families. Privileges and immunities will be considered under various main categories, namely the diplomatic mission, the diplomatic official, diplomatic staff, and families. Each category receives privileges and immunities, for example immunities enjoyed by the diplomatic mission include mission correspondence and bags. Diplomatic officials enjoy personal inviolability, immunity from jurisdiction and inviolability of diplomats’ residences and property. The staff and families of diplomatic officials too enjoy privileges and immunities. The problem of so many people receiving privileges and immunities is that there is a high likelihood of abuse. Abuses that arise are various crimes committed by diplomats, their staff and families. They are immune from local punishment and appear to be above the local law. Although the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides remedies against diplomats, staff and families who abuse their position, it gives the impression that it is not enough. Various Acts in the United Kingdom, United States and the Republic of South Africa will be analysed in order to ascertain what governments have done to try and curb diplomatic abuses. Each will be considered and found that although they have restricted immunity from previous practices it still places the diplomats’ needs above its own citizens. Thus several suggestions have been put forward and argued whether they are successful in restricting immunity comprehensively. Such suggestions are amending the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; using the functional necessity theory to further limit immunity; forming bilateral treaties between States as a possible means to restrict or limit; and lastly establishing a Permanent International Diplomatic Criminal Court. The key question to be answered is whether diplomatic immunity is needed for the efficient functioning of foreign relations between States.

The thesis covers the privileges and immunities provided to diplomatic agents in order to facilitate the performance of their functions. The main source of law is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which has been signed at the end of the Vienna Conference on 18th April 1961 and remained unchanged even after 50 years in force. It reflected the previous codification attempts as well as the existing practice of the contractual states and established rules that together with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations represent the basis in the field of diplomatic and consular law. The aim of the thesis is to describe particular privileges and immunities of the diplomatic agents, evaluate their applicability on the current diplomatic practice and consider whether the Vienna Convention represents a suitable regulation of the modern diplomatic relations. Examining both the practice of national courts and the International Court of Justice it is shown how the practice has changed over the past 50 years. The thesis covers the limits of such privileges and immunities, points out the possibilities of their abuse and presents examples of conflicts that arise in the current diplomatic practice. The thesis first deals with theoretical issues - it provides definitions of the diplomatic privileges and...

The thesis describes privileges and immunities provided to offices of diplomatic missions in order to facilitate carrying out international relations. The key legal document regulating diplomatic privileges and immunities is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which commemorated 50 years of its existence this year - since it was signed on 18 April 1961 after the Vienna Conference. The aim of the thesis is to describe the contents of the individual privileges and immunities and to consider to which extent the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations represents a suitable legal instrument even for the needs of the today's practice of diplomatic relations. First the thesis deals with general issues related to ensuring diplomatic privileges and immunities, theories which justify their necessity and selected provisions of the Vienna Convention. This is followed by an analysis of the individual privileges and immunities of a diplomatic mission - the right to display a flag, the inviolability of mission premises, the inviolability of mission archives and documents, tax privileges and the freedom of communication.