The 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 politics is practiced.

Part II builds on the foundations laid in Part I to analyze contemporary controversies in international law and politics. Chapters focus on a number of substantive issue areas, including international environmental law, international economic law, human rights law, self-determination and secession, the law governing the use of force, and international criminal justice.

This book is written to impart on readers a deepened understanding of both the possibilities and limits of international law as a tool for structuring relations in the world.

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Part 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 Law

Part 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

Nicole Scicluna - Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Hong Kong