Description
Book SynopsisThe persistent problems presented by territorial disputes are are among the most important of our time. The `Falklands War'' and the war between Iran and Iraq are but recent illustrations of the potential for mischief which attaches to issues concerning boundaries and the validity of title to territory (including maritime rights). The significance of these issues is in inverse proportion to the level of understanding exhibited by the media and by political scientists. For the most part, it has been left to lawyers and geographers, with the occasional historian, to study particular disputes. The proper study of a boundary dispute calls for the careful teasing out of the strands of history, politics, diplomacy and law which go to make up the special universe of each boundary dispute. Dr Kaikobad has brought the necessary qualities of patience and scholarship to his task, and he has used an impressive variety of sources. The result is not only a major work on the background to the Gulf Wa
Trade Review'As good a summary of the history and the issues as obtainable anywhere. Aside from examining the legal arguments, it reprints the texts of earlier arguments, it reprints the texts of earlier agreements and reproduces some excellent maps.' Financial Times MidEast Markets
'There has ... been no detailed legal examination of the issue within a historical and comparative framework. The Shatt-al-Arab boundary question fills this gap successfully. In view of the questions analysed, the book could not have been published at a better time.' Ziba Moshaver, St Antony's College, Oxford. International Affairs
'He has written a good book with clinical detachment and objectivity' International and Comparative Law Quarterly
'I consider this relatively small book to be a most valuable contribution to the literature on the Gulf War, not because it is (still) one of the rare attempts to assess some of the difficult legal issues this dreadful war has procured, but because of the quality of analysis.' Dr. Harry Post, University of Utrecht, Netherlands International Law Review
'There can be no doubting the timely appearance of Kaikobad's work. Kaikobad should be commended for having produced a tight and disciplined legal and historical account - one which maintains a healthy balance between description and analysis. Kaikobad's legal analysis of the boundary dispute is well argued and well documented.' Richard Schofield, British Society for Middle Eastern Studies
'the author succeeds in summarizing the key factual elements with admirable simplicity' M.J. Bowman, University of Nottingham, Lloyd's Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly
