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46 Alta. L. Rev. 1099 (2008-2009)
Influence of Public Opinion on International Law in the Nineteenth Century

handle is hein.journals/alblr46 and id is 1107 raw text is: INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC OPINION ON INTERNATIONAL LAW INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC OPINION ON INTERNATIONAL LAW IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY TETSUYA TOYODA* This article examines the influence of public opinion on international law in the nineteenth century. The author argues that although the nineteenth century was dominated by imperialism and state interests, public opinion played an important role. The article first examines the Vienna Congress in 1815, where European representatives made a declaration condemning the slave trade. It then moves to 1864, when some European nations agreed at Geneva on a convention for humanitarian relief of war victims. Finally it looks at the Berlin Conference of 1885, where European representatives guaranteed African people freedom of conscience and religious toleration in the Berlin Final Act of 1885. The author argues that each of these cases demonstrate circumstances in which it was possible for public opinion to influence the shaping of international documents binding upon sovereign states and concludes that although public opinion does not dominate international politics, it may play a minor influential role in the shaping of international norms. He concludes that historical analysis of these three cases provides lessons for our time and the future. Cet article porte sur l'influence de l'opinion publique sur le droit international au dix-neuvigme sikcle. L 'auteurfait valoir lefait que meme si le dix- neuvi~me sihcle gtait doming par l'impgrialisme et les intgrits de l'Etat, l'opinion publique ajou6 un r6le de taille. L 'article examine d'abordle Congros de Vienne de 1815 oiu des reprgsentants europgens ont fait des ddclarations condamnant la traite des Noirs. L 'article passe ensuite b 1864, lorsque certaines nations d'Europe se sont entendues 6 Genhve sur une convention de secours humanitaire pour les prisonniers de guerre. Enfin, il se penche sur la Confrrence de Berlin de 1885, oh des repr4sentants europdens ont garanti la libert6 de conscience et la tolgrance religieuse auxpeuples africains dans I'acte final (Berlin Final Act) de 1885. L 'auteurfait valoir le fait que chacun de ces cas dmontre les circonstances oii ilfut possible pour l'opinion publique d'influencer laforme de documents internationaux contraignant les Etats souverains. I1 conclut en disant que bien que l'opinion publique ne domine pas la politique internationale, elle peut jouer un r6le d'influence mineure dans laforme des normes internationales. Il termine en disant que I 'analyse historique de ces trois cas donne des leqons pour notre gpoque et 1'avenir. TABLE OF CONTENTS I . INTRODUCTION ............................................ 1100 II. ABOLITIONISM MOVEMENT AND THE 1815 VIENNA DECLARATION AGAINST THE SLAVE TRADE ...................... 1103 II1. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS AND THE FIRST GENEVA CONVENTION ........................... 1108 IV. THE BERLINFNAL ACTAND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN AFRICA ..................................... 1110 V. CONCLUDING REMARKS ..................................... 1112 Lecturer, Akita International University. 1099

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