International Immunities in English Law

This chapter sets out the approach of the courts of England and Wales (English courts) to the immunities of states, foreign officials, and international organizations. It discusses similarities with and differences from other jurisdictions, with a focus on the United States as the other key influence in the development of the restrictive doctrine of state immunity. The United Kingdom has engaged in incremental development of the law on immunity as compared to the more sui generis developments in the North America and the activist approach driven by domestic constitutional norms or universal jurisdiction legislation in continental Europe. The United Kingdom State Immunity Act, underpinned by four decades of interpretation and practice, can be said to represent a middle ground in the evolving landscape of immunity.