Oscar Schachter
Encyclopedia
Oscar Schachter was an American
international law
and diplomacy
professor, and United Nations
aide.
Schachter was a native of New York City, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from City College of New York
in 1936, and from Columbia Law School
, where he was a Kent scholar and first in his class of 1939. He was in private practice and worked for other federal offices before joining the United States Department of State
in 1942 as an advisor on wartime economic controls and liberated European areas.
He was a counsel for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
beginning in 1944 and was sent on missions to Poland and Russia in 1945. In 1946, he joined the United Nations as a legal counselor and later served in various directorial capacities.
Schachter was a guest lecturer at Yale Law School
from 1955 to 1971. He was appointed a professor at Columbia Law School
in the faculty of international affairs in 1975, named Hamilton Fish professor in 1980, and given emeritus status in 1985. He taught at Columbia until 2003.
He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
, and a past president of the American Society of International Law
.
According to Kofi Annan
, a past Secretary-General of the United Nations, "Professor Schachter did more than any other official of the United Nations to help shape the rule of law."
He was one of the three neutral arbitrators that rendered the decision in the 1992 Canada–France Maritime Boundary Case
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
professor, and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
aide.
Schachter was a native of New York City, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1936, and from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, where he was a Kent scholar and first in his class of 1939. He was in private practice and worked for other federal offices before joining the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in 1942 as an advisor on wartime economic controls and liberated European areas.
He was a counsel for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration was an international relief agency, largely dominated by the United States but representing 44 nations. Founded in 1943, it became part of the United Nations in 1945, was especially active in 1945 and 1946, and largely shut down...
beginning in 1944 and was sent on missions to Poland and Russia in 1945. In 1946, he joined the United Nations as a legal counselor and later served in various directorial capacities.
Schachter was a guest lecturer at Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
from 1955 to 1971. He was appointed a professor at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in the faculty of international affairs in 1975, named Hamilton Fish professor in 1980, and given emeritus status in 1985. He taught at Columbia until 2003.
He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, and a past president of the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
.
According to Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, a past Secretary-General of the United Nations, "Professor Schachter did more than any other official of the United Nations to help shape the rule of law."
He was one of the three neutral arbitrators that rendered the decision in the 1992 Canada–France Maritime Boundary Case
Canada–France Maritime Boundary Case
The Canada–France Maritime Boundary Case was a 1992 dispute between Canada and France that was decided by a court of arbitration which was created by the parties to resolve the dispute...
.
Selected works
- Schachter, Oscar, The role of international law in the practice of the United Nations, c.1950
- Schachter, Oscar, The relation of law, politics and action in the United Nations, 1960
- Schachter, Oscar; et al., Toward wider acceptance of UN treaties, New York : Arno Press, 1971. ISBN 0405022360
- Schachter, Oscar, Sharing the world’s resources, New York : Columbia University Press, 1977. ISBN 0231041101
- Schachter, Oscar; Hellawell, Robert, Competition in international business : law and policy on restrictive practices'', New York : Columbia University Press, 1981. ISBN 0231052200
- Schachter, Oscar, International law in theory and practice, Dordrecht, The Netherlands ; Boston : M. Nijhoff Publishers ; Norwell, MA, U.S.A. : Sold and distributed in the U.S.A. and Canada by Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1991. ISBN 0792310241
- Schachter, Oscar; Joyner, Christopher C., (editors), United Nations legal order, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press ; [s.l.] : ASIL, 2 volumes, 1995. ISBN 0521465222