Description
Book SynopsisThe Politics of International Law offers an introduction to the role of law in contemporary international affairs. Through a case study-driven analysis of topics such as human rights, the use of force, international environmental law, international trade law, international criminal justice and the right to self-determination, the book explains the interaction between law and politics in the world today, demonstrating that one cannot be understood without the other.The book is divided into two parts. Part I introduces contemporary international law with a focus on constitutive legal principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity and the legal equality of states. Through these introductory chapters, students are encouraged to take a holistic view of the processes and actors that drive international affairs, and explore the fascinating paradox that while international law is largely created through political processes, it also constitutes the environment in which international pol
Trade ReviewProfessor Scicluna's book, The Politics of International Law, is a unique textbook that I plan to use myself. The examples and boxes are extremely up to date, and it is the only international law textbook that situates international legal politics in its post-colonial context, bringing in a TWAIL (Third World Perspectives on International Law) voice. Very readable, and deftly switching between international relations theory and international law, law on the books and law in action, Western and non-Western perspectives, this text offers up to date discussions that will engage students as they grapple with the hard issues and conundrums that international law today raises. * Karen J. Alter, Professor of Political Science and Law, Northwestern University, USA *
Table of ContentsPart I: Law, Politics and the Sovereign State 1: Introduction: What is International Law and Why Does it Matter for International Relations? 2: International Law and International Relations Theory 3: Locating Law in the International System 4: International Organisations, States and Global Governance 5: Compliance and Enforcement in International LawPart II: Controversies in Contemporary International Law and Politics 6: Global Environmental Governance and Climate Change 7: Global Economic and Trade Governance 8: Human Rights in the Post-War Period 9: States, Nations, and Colonies: The Law and Politics of Self-Determination 10: International Law and the Use of Force 11: International Humanitarian Law 12: War and Law in the Twenty-First Century: New Threats and New Approaches 13: International Criminal Justice: From Nuremberg to the International Criminal Court 14: The Politics of International Law: Continuity and Change
