The reason of State plays an important role under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Not only does Article 15 authorize States to take measures derogating from their obligations under the Convention in time of war or other public emergency, threatening the life of the nation'; most of the rights and liberties defined in the Convention are subject to escape clauses as well. This book demonstrates first that the system' of the Convention is much more ambiguous than could have been expected. Secondly, it shows, on the basis of study carried out...