Development of the International Law according to Cornelius Van Bynkershoek

Abstract

Cornelius van Bynkershoek (1673-1743) stands out as a landmark in the development of international law, among the most relevant authors of the XVIIIth. Century. This international legal scholar was significant for the pragmatic approach adopted, focusing on state practice as a leading element for the formation and the consolidation of international legal rules, but strangely enough is much less frequently quoted than other internationalists. This article focuses on the specific and timely contribution of Bynkershoek and points the place he deserves, besides Grotius and the forerunners of international law.