The UN Security Council and International Law

Michael Wood is a Barrister at Twenty Essex Chambers. He is a Member of the UN International Law Commission, and a Senior Fellow, Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge. Michael Wood was legal adviser to the UK Foreign Office between 1970 and 2006. He was a lawyer in the UK Mission to the UN between 1991 and 1994, working mostly on Security Council matters. He has acted for many governments before the ICJ and other international courts. Eran Sthoeger is a litigator and consultant in international law. He is Adjunct Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School as well as at Seton Hall Law School. On top of his experience as an international litigator, for nearly a decade, Eran Sthoeger monitored and analysed the work and inner workings of the Security Council as a Policy Analyst at Security Council Report, NY, an organization that follows and analyzes the work of the UN Security Council.

• Introduction; 1. The legal nature of the security council; 2. Decisions of the security council; 3. The powers of the security Council; 4. Possible limits in the powers of the security council; 5. The security council and measures not involving the use of force; 6. The security council and the use of force; 7. The security council, international organizations and the use of force; 8. The security council and the international court of justice; 9. The security council's contribution to the development of international law; Conclusions.

'Whether you have an academic interest in the UN Security Council, happen to be a journalist seeking reliable background information about it, or simply want to know how the Council works and why it so frequently stays short of our expectations - from now on there is no better way of finding out than reaching for this sharp, crystal-clear book written by prominent insiders.' Bruno Simma, Former Judge at the International Court of Justice, Founding editor of the German Commentary on the UN Charter