The Estonian Tradition of International Law

Abstract

This article introduces the Baltic Yearbook of International Law volume on the Estonian tradition of international law. It interprets the comparative and translational role of the Estonian tradition of international law as a Western borderland physically close to Russia, and thematises this argument through historical examples going back several centuries. Topics discussed include the role of historical figures such as Olaus Hermelin, the 19th century legal positivists in international law, and the founders of the German Ostrecht tradition. The article also examines key Estonian positions in international law such as the role of international law in the UN, international law in cyber conflicts and other issues. One of the conclusions is that international law is an existentially important matter for small States such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.