Non-state actors from the perspective of the Institut de Droit international

François Rigaux zeroes in on one of the oldest and influential non-state actors. He recalls that, created in 1873 in Ghent, the Institut de droit international – which remains called by its French name – has undoubtedly contributed to the development of some important rules of the international legal system. François Rigaux first offers a sketch of the various evolutions undergone by the Institut and how these evolutions have impinged on the role played by the Institut. He subsequently outlines some of the most important topics which the Institut has delved into, thereby offering some insights on the substantive contribution of the Institut to our understanding of non-state actors.