Modes of Acquiring Territory — KSLU Pil Notes
Modes of Acquiring Territory
| Mode | Meaning | Legality Today | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Taking terra nullius (ownerless land) | Legal if truly ownerless | 19th century colonial expansion |
| Prescription | Long, continuous, peaceful, uninterrupted possession with animus occupandi | Legal | UK over Gibraltar (disputed by Spain) |
| Cession | Voluntary transfer by treaty | Legal | Alaska — Russia to USA (1867, $7.2M) |
| Conquest/Annexation | Acquisition by force | Illegal — Art 2(4) UN Charter | Iraq annexation of Kuwait (1990) — reversed |
| Accretion | Natural addition — river sediment, volcanic island | Legal | New islands in Bay of Bengal |
Key rule since 1945: Conquest is illegal under Art 2(4) UN Charter. Title obtained by force is not recognised (ex injuria jus non oritur).