Boston College International and Comparative Law Review Volume 35 | Issue 1 Article 1 Winter 1-1-2012 Following a Sigmoid Progression: Some Jurisprudential and Pragmatic Considerations Regarding Territorial Acquisition Among Nation- States John C. Duncan Jr. Florida A&M University College of Law,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/iclr Part of the International Law Commons Recommended Citation John C. Duncan Jr., Following a Sigmoid Progression: Some Jurisprudential and Pragmatic Considerations Regarding Territorial Acquisition Among Nation-States, 35 B.C. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 1 (2012), http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/iclr/vol35/iss1/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Boston College International and Comparative Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. FOLLOWING A SIGMOID PROGRESSION: SOME JURISPRUDENTIAL AND PRAGMATIC CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING TERRITORIAL ACQUISITION AMONG NATION-STATES John C. Duncan, Jr.* Abstract: This article analyzes methods and doctrines used by States to ac- quire territories. The role of the United Nations in resolving disputes be- tween nations and the inhabitants directly affected by the disputes is also addressed, including the jurisdictional, jurisprudential, and practical con- siderations of territorial acquisition. Finally, traditional territorial acquisi- tion doctrines are applied to extraterrestrial and outer space acquisition. As Western civilization etched out territories and borders across its known world, international norms of diplomatic behavior appeared in the form of customs.