Historical Background of the Principle <i>uti possidetis juris</i>

Abstract

The foregoing analysis argues that uti possidetis ’ originates from jus civile of Roman Law. The principle’s main purpose in Roman Law was the preserving of the status quo and stability of property possession. From the rule of private Roman Law uti possidetis transformed into a principle of international law dealing with state or territorial sovereignty issues. Only in the 18-19th centuries it became a principle of interstate relations in Latin America and then in African and Asian continents. It is argued that the principle of uti possidetis juris is a specifi c mechanism and process of international law, which serves for the purposes of transferring the sovereignty from preceding sovereign to the new state.