Public International Law: Contemporary Principles and Perspectives

Gideon Boas's experience as an international litigator and his renown as an academic practitioner mean he was well-placed to write a book on international law that both covers this growing field and enters it at key moments to illustrate important themes. This book accomplishes the difficult task of offering a wide-ranging perspective on the whole field, as well as conveying the ferment that surrounds it. Students of international law will derive great benefit from it.' - Gerry Simpson, University of Melbourne, Australia Public International Law offers a comprehensive understanding of international law as well as a fresh and highly accessible approach. While explaining the theory and development of international law, this work also examines how it functions in practice. Case studies and recent examples are infused in the discussion on each topic, and critical perspectives on the principles are given prominence, building an understanding of how and why the international legal system operates in the way it does and where it is heading. The book explains the theoretical foundations for each principle in detail before illustrating how these principles function in practice. Features include: - a focus on fundamental principles of international law rather than specialist sub-topics; - integrated and contextual explanation of the political and extra-legal dimensions of the international legal system; - principles of international law placed within a contemporary real-life context; - traditional and contemporary case studies explained in the context of legal principles; and - uniform structure to facilitate understanding. With insight founded on the author's many years of experience as a practitioner and academic in the field of international law, this work will offer legal practitioners, policymakers and students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, an invaluable insight into the field of international law. Contents: Preface 1. International Law: History, Theory and Purpose 2. International Law-making: The Sources of International Law 3. The Relationship between International and National Law 4. The Subjects of International Law: States 5. Other Subjects of International Law: Non-state Actors and International Law s Evolution 6. Jurisdiction Privileges and Immunities 7. State Responsibility 8. International Law and the Use of Force 9. Pacific Resolution of Disputes Index