Immunity from Execution of Military and Cultural Property

At first glance, State military property and State cultural property are not two categories of goods with much in common. Legally, however, they are classed together for one particular purpose: both are generally immune from foreign State court measures of constraint. This classification reflects the importance both categories of good have to States, their governments and (not least) their peoples. This chapter will show how that importance is reflected in the law on State immunity, but will also consider why, in each case, the distinction exists and whether it can be justified.