| Arbitration | Int'l Organizations | Sovereignty |
| Cultural Protection | Int'l/Tribunals | Terrorism |
| Education | Mexico | Trade |
| Environment | Practice | Treaties |
| European Community Law | Self-Determination | United Nations |
| Human Rights/Feminist Studies |
This is a collection of references to the work of the PCOA. The listed publications are
available from the Court which describe its work and contemporary developments:
(1) Permanent Court of Arbitration Optional Rules for Arbitrating Disputes between Two Parties of which only one is a State (1993) [32]
(2) Permanent Court of Arbitration Optional Rules for Arbitrating Disputes between Two States (1992) [30]
(3) The Permanent Court of Arbitration--New Directions (1991) [91]
(4) Permanent Court of Arbitration: First Conference of the Members of the Court (1993) [139]
(5) Permanent Court of Arbitration: 93rd Annual Report (1993) [63]
The Editor takes this opportunity to thank First Secretary Bette Shifman for thus providing this
information to
UNDIG members.
K. Jote, INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
(Jurisforalaget, 1994) [paper: 346].
The protection of cultural heritage has long seemed like a very significant wrong with rather
insignificant
remedies. This is the first book-length version covering its importance and the remedies now
associated with this
subject--one which has become rather important since World War II, and now, as sovereignty
continues to change
in the aftermath of the Cold War. The threats are not limited to just material damage.
Displacement causes other
forms of damage to the peoples affected by this facet of sovereignty that has changed or is
threatened.
This book examines the international protection of cultural heritage from a variety of
perspectives. It is
divided into three parts. The beginning covers the protection of cultural heritage in wartime and
colonialism. It
addresses the various international codes, since 1864, which continue to have global
relevance--including the 1954
Hague Convention. The middle part covers protection in peacetime. The national laws of various
countries are
analyzed in terms of content and vitality. There are chapters on bilateral, regional, and global
measures and
agreements. The final Part (III) covers the subject of Restitution. A comprehensive bibliography
provides data for
further inquiry--although much of what most interested readers would seek is already available
between these two
covers.
Hundreds of European law students assisted in the preparation of this informational reference
guide to
legal education in Europe. It provides both detailed and current information for consultation by
students
contemplating study in Europe. The guide contains practical details including institutions, courses
of study,
scholarship opportunities, and telephone numbers--by country (Austria through Yugoslavia).
The initial page for each country is a map which conveniently illustrates the cities where the
listed schools
are located. The next page provides a brief general informational overview of history and relevant
political details.
This entry is followed by "legal information"--number of lawyers, career opportunities, system of
examination,
structure of the particular program of study, admission requirements, recognition of degrees, etc.
The rear annexes include the European Student Exchange Programs (e.g., Erasmus). The user
may thus
learn of the programs available for promoting the general mobility of students in Europe. Another
annex is the
several Council Directives and treaties for recognizing higher-education diplomas, thus fostering
professional
mobility. An Index conveniently lists the categories of information available by country (and city).
This book is recommended for those of us who are inundated with questions about
post-graduate training
and summer programs abroad. It is well-organized with a readily-accessible content.
This is a significant part of the Hein Modern Legal Systems Cyclopedia series. It is useful
for various
segments of the legal community--applicants, law firms seeking fresh legal talent from all over the
globe, and
anyone desiring information about the law schools of the world. This is the updated version of
the 1977 Hein
publication The Law Schools of the World.
The entries range from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe--and cover most countries of the world.
Given the
turmoil with the former Yugoslavia, the law schools in that region are listed under "Yugoslavia."
The editors
obtained their data from questionnaires. Where schools within certain countries (especially
Eastern Europe) did
not respond, the editors independently obtained data for completeness of coverage. Law schools
of the United
States are not included--which adds to the value of this reference work, because such readily
obtainable
information is not included as "filler" in the apparently predominant US market for this work.
The typical listing includes the school's location, national population, degree offered, whether
foreign
students admitted, admission officer's name, and law librarian.
This book is the product of the 1992 Conference sponsored by UNESCO, the International
Council of
Scientific Unions, the International Astronomical Union, and the Committee on Space Research at
UNESCO
headquarters in Paris. It contains twenty-four individually-authored chapters on various aspects
of the resulting
Declaration on the Reduction of Adverse Environmental Impacts on Astronomy.
The science of astronomy faces the crisis that observation may soon become impossible due to
the spread
of civilization on the Planet Earth. Development has had the side-effect of greatly limiting the
ability to study the
heavens--due to increasing vibration, environmental degradation, space debris, and changes in
weather wrought by
man-made phenomena.
Part I traces the impacts of civilization on the science of astronomy. Parts II and III address
electromagnetic pollution--at optical and radio wavelengths. Part IV chronicals the impact of
space debris.
Various appendixes contain reports, statements, and certain national laws on this theme.
This collection of analyses by astronomers, philosophers, communications experts, and
scientists from all
over the globe contributes a succinct analysis and an intellectual spark for better understanding
this critical
problem of interest to ASIL readers whose areas of concentration include environmental and
space law.
This is a collection of some ninety cases, drawn from the Court of Justice of the European
Communities
(about 30% of the cases) and various national courts [from the traditional dozen countries] within
the Community
(about 70% of the cases). The period covered ranges from early inception (1962) to post-"1992"
(1994). Thus,
several decisions deal with application of the Maastricht Treaty.
This collection of cases is unique, because of its exclusive concentration on the relationship
between
Community Law and the national law of member States. All cases are in English, including those
translated from
the original language of the particular court.
The court decisions contained in this collection are readily accessible--via brief summaries at
the outset,
and useful key-word headings relating to substance. It thus provides convenient access for the
practitioner,
student, and researcher. There are front matter tables of cases and a topical digest of cases. The
25-page
introduction paves the way for one's initial digestion of Community Law.
There have been, of course, hundreds of decisions on Community Law by the various courts.
This
collection is remarkable, given its selection of the major cases dealing with the continuing
integration of national
and Community Law.
Infibulation is the most extreme form of female circumcision (sewing nearly shut). It is a
fundamentally
Islamic practice, condemned in western society, along with the other forms of female mutilation.
The author
explains the heritage of this practice, why it is so ingrained in certain cultures, and that modern
attention is not
necessarily going to eradicate its use. The author further illustrates that infibulation is the only
positive status for
many women in northeastern Africa. Popular resistance to its eradication comes from women in
societies where it
is considered a right of passage, and has been effectively codified into the structural nexus of
marriage, family, and
social honor. The author thus shows how governments have occasionally erred in defining and
treating
infibulation, as if were merely a social problem in need of reform. Elimination can occur only in
the wake of a
broader spectrum of modernization.
This book is destined to become the pivotal treatment of the phenomenon generally described
as "female
circumcision." It will be of intense interest, not only to teachers of International Law and human
rights courses,
but also those exploring this significant but somewhat muffled facet of comparative religion,
African Studies, and
the myriad of other disciplines that this theme touches and concerns.
A number of international organizations, such as the League of Nations and the UN, have
targeted State
conduct in the quest to control the consequences of armed conflict. This very special treatment
focuses on the role
played by organizations in civil wars. The authors address avoidance, regulation, and mitigation
of the effects of
civil war on the indigenous populations.
Part I deals with the legal essentials--the applicable principles of International Law and the
involvement
of external organizations. The second part of the book analyzes the related implementation and
practice of the
earlier-described principles. The succinct, but comprehensive, coverage therein covers the status
of the parties;
fact finding mechanisms; humanitarian assistance; refugees and ethnic cleansing; peacekeeping
operations;
monitoring and coercion by international organizations; and the related liability under
International Law. A useful
bibliography provides insight into the problem, as well as additional resources for further study.
This publication is well-written, well-documented, and well worth including in collections
including not
only international organizations, but also the use of force, civil war, peacekeeping,
non-governmental
organizations, and the "new world order."
This small book is the first in a series containing edited documents of the specialized
agencies of the UN
and certain other international organizations. The introductory chapter provides a comprehensive,
but succinct,
distillation of the evolution of the IMO--formerly the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative
Organization--essentially a clearinghouse for resolving maritime disputes.
The book contains chapters on the IMO's structure, its operations, and a membership table.
Appendix 1
lists the membership, which is most countries of the world. Appendix 2 contains the constitutive
Convention on
the International Maritime Organization. Appendix 3 is the Convention on the Privileges and
Immunities of the
[UN] Specialized Agencies, including Annex XII that applies specifically to the IMO. Appendix 4
is the
Headquarters Agreement between the IMO and the United Kingdom.
The IMO's Rules of Procedure of the Assembly are contained in Appendix 5. The basic
provisions
address IMO sessions, delegations, credentials, agenda, and voting. This segment of the book
contains several
other convenient features: the Rules of Procedure of the Maritime Environment Protection
Committee (including
"Conduct of Business"); the Rules Governing Relationship[s] with Non-Governmental
International
Organizations; and the Guidelines on the Grant of Consultative Status. Appendix 6 consists of a
chart that lists
the conventions adopted by the IMO.
The IMO has published over 200 titles in English, containing the text of relevant conventions,
codes,
recommendations, etc. The majority are available in the other official UN languages. This
handbook conveniently
provides the basic information for readers seeking the essential details about the organization and
its purposes.
This two-volume work is a welcome addition to the literature on international tribunals.
The author,
Executive Secretary of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal (WBAT), has thus contributed
detailed and well-organized information about the work of a rather obscure institution that tends
not to receive the attention that it
deserves. Staff members, who are international civil servants, thus have a remedy for
labor-related problems
arising under the terms of their employment. As such, the work of this tribnal is a useful source
for other
international organizations and their handling of such disputes.
The first volume (1989) analyzes Judgment Numbers 1-54, from 1981 through 1987. The
second volume
does the same for Decisions 55-104 (through 1991). This is not just a collection of cases. The
author has
succinctly abbreviated the coverage in terms of the passages dealing with key issues in each of the
Tribunal's
decisions.
Both volumes conveniently summarize the jurisdiction of the WBAT, its sources of law, and
all aspects of
its operations. Each one (within its indicated timeframe) thus organizes the caselaw into a
timeline-like format--from jurisdiction through judgment. A collection that emphasizes the work
of international tribunals, and anyone
interested in learning more about international civil service, would benefit from including these
relatively short
volumes.
The Security Council established the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) in
1991, under
its Chapter VII powers. Its mandate is to process and resolve Iraq's payment of claims--incurred
as a result of the
Persian Gulf War. This obligation was spawned by Iraq's unlawful invasion of Kuwait in 1990
and the
environmental disaster generated upon Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait in 1991. The UNCC sits
in Geneva.
Some twenty UNCC decisions--mostly involving personal injury or death--were issued during
the ensuing
three years. Their substance and effect are analyzed in this collection of fourteen
individually-authored chapters.
The authors include ambassadors, judges, and professors who participated in the University of
Virginia's "Sokol"
program for studying issues in Private International Law.
The opening segment on "establishment" traces the evolution of the UNCC. Ensuing chapters
follow
with analyses of lessons learned from the Iran/US claims tribunal, and various national
perspectives (US &
Kuwait). The next segment, "Nature of the Commission," covers Due Process issues and the UN
legal structure.
The next segment, "Operations," addresses provisional rules and claims processing. The
penultimate segment
analyzes the contribution of the UNCC to the international claims settlement process. Finally, a
chapter by David
Caron summarizes the interplay of the UNCC and the search for practical justice.
The appendixes provide the relevant Security Council Resolution (687), and report of the
Secretary-General. The third in this latter portion of the book (approximately 70 pages) provides
the brief text of Decisions
1-26--the established procedural rules for the UNCC. A very useful chart at page 457-460
succinctly illustrates--by country--the number of claims recommended for payment and the
amount of compensation (US $). Other charts
in this section of the book list the various categories of claims and the amount paid as of
publication (October
1994).
This is likely to be the definitive publication on the preliminary work of the UNCC. It is a
"must," to be
added to any collection on international courts or State responsibility.
News of the Serbian-operated camps in Bosnia-Herzegovina was the genesis for
re-establishment of an
International Criminal Court (ICC) similar to Nuremberg. The timely nature of the subject and
comprehensive
treatment dictate inclusion of this publication in the major (and maybe not so major) collections
on international
courts and criminal law. The 1200-page coverage is complete--and not just a collection of
documents. The
authors were directly involved in creation of the ICC through their respective positions in the UN
Office of Legal
Affairs and the US Department of State.
Volume I of this two volume-collection analyzes the Statute of the International Tribunal and
the
companion Rules of Procedure and Evidence. The authors integrate the various State and
organizational
proposals, as well as Security Council members' perspectives regarding adoption of the ICC's new
Statute. They
also analyze both historical context--such as the 1474 Swiss trial that first rejected the superior
orders defense.
The authors also review the prospects for the success of this permanent UN organ--"The
International Tribunal for
the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law
Committed in
the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (established by Security Council Res. 827 of
1993).
This volume conveniently summarizes (inter alia) the legal basis, subject-matter jurisdiction
(SMJ), and
personal jurisdiction of the tribunal. It provides a thoughtful analysis of the concurrent SMJ of
the ICC and
national courts--not unlike the concurrent SMJ of US state and federal courts over most federal
questions in order
to ensure the availability of a forum. There is an expectation of primacy of the ICC, however.
The general
procedure regarding investigation, indictment, trial, appeal, and judicial assistance are prudently
summarized.
Volume II is a collection of the significant documents involved in the development of the ICC.
It includes
the report of the UN Secretary-General, which contains the above-referenced Statute, the Rules
of Procedure and
Evidence, the Directive on the Assignment of Defense Counsel, Rules Governing Detention, the
Headquarters
Agreement for the ICC (at The Hague), and the basic Nuremberg Charter and Rules.
This publication is a must for practitioners and researchers seeking the latest word on the
laws of Mexico.
It is a bilingual English-Spanish translation (facing pages) of both of these major codes--and a
welcome addition
to the NAFTA-related literature involving doing business with Mexico. Two Mexico City
attorneys have thus
produced a well-organized and well-indexed publication covering the two codes having the most
impact on
commercial transactions in Mexico: (1) the Civil Code for the Federal District in Ordinary Matters
and for the
Entire Republic in Federal Matters, and (2) the Commercial Code--which is applicable to all
commercial and
mercantile dealings defined in the introductory articles. (There are also some state-specific
codes.) It is thus an
indispensable resource for obtaining the essential ground rules that US or other foreign counsel
can read, before
consulting a Mexican attorney for more detailed advice on Mexico's civil law system (in contrast
to the US
common law system).
The book opens with an article-by-article listing of contents. One may thus peruse the more
than 3,000
Civil Code articles--and nearly 1,500 Commercial Code articles at a glance, to determine which is
most applicable
to the question at hand. Each code also begins with a detailed Table of Contents, to assure
further access to
content. Then, each of the two codes is set forth in its entirety--in English and Spanish facing
pages. The Index is
superbly constructed, so that any researcher can quickly find an applicable code section. The
paperback and size
format makes this a convenient handbook, which is easily transported as necessary.
This contribution to the literature is sure to be on "the best seller's list" for the practitioner and
the
researcher who previously had to consult the original language text for an authoritative version of
the Civil and
Commercial Codes of Mexico.
R. Christou & J. Gordon (ed.), FINDING AND MANAGING FOREIGN COUNSEL
(Longman,
1994) [paper: 333].
This book will be of special interest to ASIL practitioners. International practice requires an
increasing
degree of association with foreign counsel. This is an excellent reference tool for those with such
interests in the
European Union countries, the USA, and Japan. The various chapters cover distinct national
jurisdictions:
Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, The
Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, the UK, and the US.
Each chapter begins with a convenient summary of contents for the particular
country. The
chapter entries include the highlights of the legal profession in the covered jurisdiction, methods
for locating a
suitable lawyer in the appropriate field, common commercial arrangements, and the treatment of
foreign nationals
under local law.
This is a rather handy collection of essential details for obtaining foreign counsel, local
expectations, and
some thoughtful factors for choosing a suitable lawyer in the EU and its major trading partners
(Japan and the US).
The issue of self-determination remains a key concern in the international
community--characterized by
the author as essentially granting statehood to oppressed peoples, while disrupting existing State
structures. This
title provides a comprehensive analysis of a subject previously covered in only the law reviews,
and the more
limited accounts of its role in a myriad of international legal contexts.
The author, who quite well versed in such matters as President of the UN's new international
criminal
court, reviews State practice in terms of national and UN proceedings. The Introduction presents
the concept and
its principle features. Part I contains a chapter exploring the historical roots of this doctrine,
beginning with the
French Revolution. Part II continues with a discussion of the process leading to
self-determination becoming an
international legal standard--through treaties, customary State practice, and UN prodding. Part
III highlights the
operation of self-determination principles in current contexts, including problems with its
application in particular
regions such as the Western Sahara, East Timor, Palestine, Yugoslavia, and Quebec. Part IV
analyzes new trends
such as the Helsinki process and the 1976 Algiers Declaration regarding political oppression. The
final Part (V)--General Stock-Taking--addresses the merits and failings of the self-determination
objective and the UN process.
The author also proposes a strategy for future promotion of the right of self-determination.
The author states, in his prefecatory remarks, that "this book cannot exhaust the topic." This
reviewer
would add that he has done a splendid job of rendering an exhaustive and comprehensive analysis
of one of the
most difficult issues in International Law.
Sovereignty is a cornerstone in international relations theory, statehood, and the somewhat
distinct
division of politics into national and international spheres. This book is a critical analysis of the
history of
sovereignty during the Renaissance, Classical Age, and contemporary phase of international
relations. The
essential construct of this particular treatment is that sovereignty is, as analyzed by the author,
"contingent upon,
rather than fundamental to, political science and its history." Thus, readers who teach in the
political science,
history, and international relations departments of their universities will find this provocative
treatment a useful
adjunct to their courses which emphasize the role of sovereignty in these fields.
The seven chapters introduce and decontruct sovereignty, via the highlights of each of the
referenced
historical periods. The final chapter poses the provocative question whether sovereignty is likely
to end, in the
sense that we have known and studied it from past historical periods. Sovereignty is
characterized as currently
paradoxical, simultaneously containing a prophesy of interstate anarchy and a promise of
redemption via a degree
of internationalization favoring a global (rather than a continued State-dominated) community.
This is a fascinating treatment of a subject that. all too often, is considered only in
contemporary
perspective. Terrorism is now "high-tech" but exists only in different forms than practiced in
earlier eras. A front-material chronology summarizes terrorist activity dating to 66 A.D. This
publication traces the work of the many
terrorist organizations and events which have unfornuately dominated newspaper headlines. A
thirteen-page front-matter list provides the names and common abbreviations for contemporary
groups.
The introductory chapter defines the various dimensions of terrorism, including nature,
elements, and
categories. The bilk of the book contains the A-Z dictionary of individual terrorists, groups, and
organizations--beginning with Abdul Rahman (alleged accessory to the New York World Trade
Center bombing) and ending with
the first-century A.D. "Zealots" (who waged an open insurgency against Rome).
The other major segment of this study is "The Bibliography." It amasses the extensive body of
literature
on terrorism. It is conveniently organized by subject, such as General Reference Works and
Terrorism by Region.
This dictionary would be a very useful addition to any international collection, especially those
emphasizing the
impact of terrorism.
This is a welcome addition to the literature on anti-dumping measures. With the
proliferation of free trade areas, there has been a need for an analysis illustrating the link between
the economics of dumping (and other anti-competitive practices) with the realities of free trade.
The author argues that international anti-dumping law can be inappropriate
response to harmful imports. National competition law may be the superior device for regulating
such conduct--even if applied on an extraterritorial basis. The author explores both multilateral
(NAFTA) and bilateral (USA/Japan) responses to the dumping application of predatory pricing.
She depicts problems with countermeasures, such as the misuse of anti-dumping duty
investigations, suggesting the gradual phasing out of anti-dumping measures.
With the advent of the WTO, and the continuing threat of unilateral trade sanctions, this
analysis arrives at a time when there appears to be a need for harmonizing national
anti-competition laws among trading nations. This author's treatment is particularly useful for its
assessment of the dumping phenomenon which has produced so
many of the complaints about anti-competitive behavior affecting international trade.
This paperback work is the abbreviated version of the publisher's four-volume looseleaf
work entitled Doing Business in Mexico. In the aftermath of conclusion of the
NAFTA, and the dearth of materials on this increasingly important topic, any collection would
profit from including this particular title. Fifteen individually-authored titles cover the broad
spectrum of issues facing anyone who is, or who is contemplating, doing business in Mexico.
The early chapters provide an overview of the economic and legal systems, as well as cultural
considerations. The middle chapters address the critical equally matters of legal business
formalities, foreign investment, the Mexican law on business entities, and export promotion.
These materials also cover US and Mexican tax ramifications, industrial property/labor law, and
environmental considerations. The final chapters deal with the options for resolving commercial
disputes and the antitrust implications of doing business in Mexico.
This book nicely highlights the key laws of Mexico, and provides a basic understanding of the
primarylaws governing Mexican business operations.
This is the first volume in a series that explores the provocative theme "Better to Ship
Goods than Soldiers Across International Borders." This volume deals exclusively with the new
WTO. It consists of ten chapters--nine of which address the evolution and current operation of
this new entity. The final chapter, described as the gateway to Volume II in the series, briefly
outlines the direction of the ensuing alternative dispute resolution publication.
The introductory chapter generally describes the GATT-WTO integration, with interesting
analyses of the perspectives regarding Japan (potential trade war) and China (integration of
non-market economies). The second chapter succinctly identifies the myriad of agencies and
organizations impacted by the WTO. This is, effectively, a convenient glossary/directory of
relevant institutions likely to play a continuing role in the evolution of the WTO process. The
third through sixth chapters cover the mechanics of the WTO, from birth to its rules and
regulations. The seventh chapter provides a quite comprehensive critical analysis of the former
GATT. Chapter 8 follows with a discussion of the US legislative process and the WTO (and then
a conclusion in Chapter 9). Several appendixes round pout this WTO analysis, including the
AAA's International Arbitration Rules and the UN Commission on International Trade Law
Arbitration Rules.
The initial volume of this trade series is a very useful addition to the growing core of literature on the WTO. It provides an effervescent blend of the ideals and the practical aspects of an institution--by the two lawyers and the adjunct professor who have collaborated to produce a useful dissection of the WTO.
This very special work on treaties provides useful insight into the relationship between two
sources of International Law--custom and treaty. It features the analysis of the circumstances
whereby new customary law may alter the effect of a prior treaty. The author's basic premise is
that new customary law does not automatically affect a previous incompatible treaty--although
certain conditions may beget a unilateral right to seek termination or revision. This proposition
was sufficiently controversial to preclude coverage in the Vienna Convention on the Law of
Treaties.
The early chapters introduce and summarize the essentials of this complex problem. State
practice, in the law of the sea and other areas, is intertwined with the relevant judicial precedent
to explore the parameters of the issue and its arguable resolution. The author provides a
refreshing sense of balance in her criticisms and conclusions. A nine-page bibliography provides
access to related resources.
The author's preparation of this work under the supervision of D.W. Bowett, and editing by
Ian Brownlie, suggests that this book arrives on the market with rather impressive credentials. As
stated by Professor Brownlie, the author draws upon substantial State practice and considerable
jurisprudence in an "exploration of the impact of developments in the law of the sea upon prior
fisheries agreements, which provides an added attraction to a most helpful work."
This treatment of the UN and its future addresses the organization, in its contemporary
post-Cold War posture. The essential objective explores the ability of the UN to occupy a
continued role in the international system, peacekeeping operations, disarmament, and economic
aspects of the UN's twenty-first century international relations.
Ten
individually-authored chapters address the new challenges to the organization, its leadership role,
reform, peacekeeping developments and problems, sanctions against the former Yugoslavia,
disarmament, and human rights/intervention. The non-US nationality of most of the authors gives
this work a certain foreign flavor--something often sought in presenting the complete picture of
the UN and its viability.
Given the enacted and pending US legislation regarding the continued US
financial commitment to the UN, this work is quite useful reading for those readers who desire
"foreign" perspectives on the continuing viability of the UN. This book is well-written and
well-researched. It is a succinct volume that would serve as a useful reader on the UN's role in
the twenty-first century version of international relations--as part of an increasingly State-centric
system.
Both editors have enjoyed distinguished careers as scholars. Just when one thought "What could
either do next?", they have produced a comprehensive and provocative statement of the probable
UN legal order for the twenty-first century, under auspices of the American Society of
International Law. They have assembled a cadre of top people in the field of International
Law--from the far corners of the globe--to produce twenty-four individually-authored chapters in
these two volumes. The driving forces of this publication include the making, revision, and repeal
of International Law through UN institutions; how certain UN bodies have served as sources of
International Law; what forms of existing law illustrate the UN's law-making function; and
whether the UN has been a viable regulator of State action.
Volume 1 begins with Professor Schachter's practical overview of the UN in the aftermath of
the Cold War. The ensuing Part I of this volume analyzes the UN in its role as a continuing
source of International Law. The chapters therein address law-making process, interpretation,
and inducing compliance. Part II covers the substantive elements of force, human rights,
self-determination, refugees, women, labor, and economic relations.
Volume 2 continues this publication's substantive coverage with chapters on
education, environment, law of the sea, air law/outer space, communications, health, food, crimes,
and the unification of private law. Part III, on internal law, closes the second volume with the law
related to international civil service and the UN's financial responsibility.
Each of the chapter analyses is well-written, richly adorned with supporting references for further
review, and solidified with a "tight" analysis. In the contemporary mode of authoritative coverage
of contemporary issues by multiple authors (e.g., Bedjaoui, International Law:
Achievements and Prospects & Macdonald, Essays in Honour of Wang Tieya
--both reviewed in earlier UN Decade Newsletters), this work ranks high among the
excellent studies available for brief but authoritative analyses of critical issues in International
Law. This particular work is notable because of its emphasis on the role of the United Nations in
shaping and enhancing the evolving post-Cold War international legal order.
This voluminous coverage of the evolution of the UN Charter
provisions began with the 1991 German-language version--and culminated in this
English-language translation. Sixty authors from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland collaborated
to produce this excellent reference tool. The general editor is the Professor of International Law
and European Community Law at the University of Munich (currently at the University of
Michigan). Its essential contribution is the analysis of nearly fifty years of practice, now available
to both academics and practitioners under one cover.
The contributors--none of whom are native English speakers--thus track prior developments,
while integrating them with their analyses of both contemporary and future Charter operations.
The "foreign flavor" of this work thus makes it a particularly useful device for obtaining
significant insights into the future of the organization.
The various authors
each undertake an analysis of a major article or subpart. The article is first quoted at the
beginning of the respective analyses, followed by a comprehensive alpha-numeric table of contents
of the analysis of that article. Every paragraph of the book begins with a marginal numbering
system, making its a veritable researcher's dream--facilitating useful analysis while allowing quick
access to content. There is also a short, but comprehensive, bibliography of sources for each
author's analysis. The typical bibliography is by no means limited to German or German-language
sources. Notwithstanding the author's prefacatory statement regarding the translation from
German (by each author), the book reads well. Any language variation, which occasionally
surfaces, is rendered rather trivial in terms of overall readability.
The Annexes
include a restatement of the Rules and Procedure of the General Assembly, and a Table of
Cases--both by year and by Article.
This book is on the "must list" for any
serious researcher who seeks ready access to historical and contemporary applications of the UN
Charter.
![[Home]](homeicon.gif){kind=small}