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This thesis examines the role played by the concept of aggression in international relations, in order to reveal fresh insight into the nature of international society. In the first chapter, the concept of aggression is located within its theoretical context, with particular reference to the writings of certain realists, liberals, and international society theorists. The following chapters then assess the significance of the concept of aggression in the practice of international relations from the early twentieth century period onwards. Thus, chapter two looks at the concept of aggression in the post-World War One Treaty of Versailles peace agreement, including its importance in the US Senate's decision not to ratify that agreement. Subsequently, chapter three examines aggression in the context of the policy-making and procedures of the League of Nations prior to World War Two. In the aftermath of this conflict, chapter four considers how the crime of aggression came to be the key charge laid against Nazi leaders at the International Military Tribunal held at Nuremberg from 1945-946, and chapter five goes on to look at the crime of aggression's role at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo from 1946-1948. The re-emergence of the concept of aggression in the Charter of the United Nations, and this organisation's long struggle to 'define' aggression for the purposes of international peace and security are the focus of chapter six. The work of various UN organs towards achieving these purposes, and the part played by the concept of aggression in this work, feature in chapter seven. In chapters eight and nine, attention is turned to efforts since Nuremberg and Tokyo to entrench aggression as an offence against international criminal law, most recently at the 1998 Rome Conference on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court. The final part of the thesis makes some concluding comments concerning the value and significance of the concept of aggression in international politics today.

This study set out to explore the relationships between overstorey canopy and regeneration with a view to recommending silvicultural prescriptions for transforming even-aged Sitka spruce stands to uneven-aged (irregular) stands and managing such stands. An experiment was established in Kingdrogan Forest, Perthshire in which six small (20 m diameter) circular gaps were created in a stand of 32 year olds Sitka spruce. Eight plots were established along a north south transect through the gap and which extended under the canopy on either side of the gap. Four plots were in the gap, two under the canopy north of the gap and two under the canopy south of the gap. Each plot contained three sub-plots which contained the following treatments: planting of Sitka spruce nursery grown transplants, artificial seeding and control. Germination, survival and growth of seedlings were monitored over subsequent growing seasons. Environmental monitoring was carried out for two years: namely canopy openness, temperature and soil moisture. Germination rates were fond to be highest in the light shade in the southern half of the gap although growth was highest in the sunny northern half of the gap. Almost no seedlings survived under the canopy. A complementary survey of older advance regeneration was carried out on two sites, Comlongan Forest in southwest Scotland and Tarenig in mid Wales. The survey looked at canopy density, characterised by canopy openness and basal area, and density and growth of natural regeneration. Canopy openness and basal area were not found to be significantly related. Basal area was a better indicator of both regeneration density and growth than canopy openness. It appeared that in order to encourage growth of the natural regeneration the stand should be kept at a basal area of 30m2ha-1 or less. This is less than the value (38m2ha -1) for a fully stocked stand. Tentative recommendations are made for the transformation of regular, even-aged stands of Sitka spruce into irregular stands.