Terra Nullius

Concept of Terra Nullius

Terra Nullius may be defined as: This Latin phrase literally means a land that is void or empty. If lands were not possessed or occupied by any person, and even if they were occupied but were not being used in a fashion European legal systems recognized or approved [such as agriculture], then the lands were “empty” and available for Discovery claims.(1)

Terra Nullius

Embracing mainstream international law, this section on terra nullius explores the context, history and effect of the area of the law covered here.See more related entries to Terra Nullius in this legal encyclopedia.

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Further Reading

• The entry “terra nullius” in the Parry and Grant Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law (currently, the Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law, 2009), Oxford University Press

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Notes

1. From Robert Miller, “The International Law of Colonialism: A Comparative Analysis,” Lewis & Clark Law Review, Vol. 15:4 (2012), 853-854. Available online: .