ABSTRACT
The history of international dispute settlement, and in particular, that of the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) cannot be recited without reference to the contribution of Latin American states. In a similar vein, since the inception of the PCIJ, international peaceful dispute settlement in Latin America has also significantly evolved. From the inception of the idea of creating a permanent court to settle international disputes, Latin American states contributed significantly to the compulsory jurisdiction of that Court. Their prominent role continued long after the creation of the PCIJ, with its successor, the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This chapter places the important role of Latin American states in the
solidification of the peaceful settlement of international disputes, from the prism of their relevant role in the creation of the PCIJ and their support of that institution. It first overviews the brief history of the PCIJ and addresses the contribution of Latin American states to the inception and foundational aspects of that Court. In this sense, it focuses on the significant role of Latin American states to the development of the idea of compulsory jurisdiction, through a review of relevant statements of delegates of the region in the negotiation of the PCIJ statute. This chapter ultimately argues that Latin American states performed a cardinal role in the creation of the Court, and more broadly, in the progressive development of international law.
