Basic Documents in International Law

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Editor: Ian Brownlie QC

Price: £26.99

Edition: 6th Edition (September 2008)

ISBN: 978-0-19-921771-7

Buy from OUP: Click Here

Instead of adopting a cases and materials approach, like many similar texts, Basic Documents in International Law uniquely and simply considers the basic materials for international lawyers.  This approach has its advantages because it allows the reader to quickly identify the important documents.

Written by an experienced international lawyer and drawing upon his experience in both practice and academia, Basic Documents in International Law is separated into ten parts: international organisations; the law of the sea; outer space; diplomatic relations; permanent sovereignty over natural resources; human rights and self-determination; law of treaties; state responsibility; judicial settlement of disputes; and international criminal law.  This expansive coverage means that most, if not all, topics are covered.

Basic Documents in International Law is somewhat curious because it avoids including comments or notes and relies on sporadic introductory explanations.  Put another way, it essentially says "here are the fundamental documents": this is refreshingly simple.  This approach, by literally slimming the text down to its bare bones, means that Basic Documents in International Law is exactly what it says it is.  To my mind, this approach works very well and ensures the points raised by the material are uncluttered by comments.

For a reader wanting a guide to the fundamental documents in international law, they need look no further than Basic Documents in International Law.  It impressively brings together an excellent selection of materials on a vast array of subjects in one handy volume.  The material is well-selected and clearly arranged which allows the reader to quickly distinguish between material and the rare comments.  Those readers looking for a critical consideration of these documents should, however, look elsewhere.

Reviewed on 16 February 2009

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