Understanding International Law

Conway W. Henderson is a retired professor of Political Science who has taught courses in International Relations and International Law for more than three decades.

• List of Boxes xiPreface xiiiList of Abbreviations xivPart I Making the World More Lawful 11 The Rise of International Law 3The Nature of International Law 4The Roles of International Law 6The Early Beginnings of International Law 9Dueling Philosophies 13Contending Modern Approaches 16Operating Conditions: What Helps and What Hinders? 20Chapter Summary 222 A World of Actors: A Question of Legal Standing 27Actors 28The State 28International Government Organizations 33Non-government Organizations 36Multinational Corporations 39Individuals 42Insurgents 44Ethnic Groups 46Terrorists 49Mercenaries and Private Military Companies 50Domestic Actors 51Chapter Summary 523 The Sources of International Law: Creating Law without Government 57Customary Law 58Treaty Law 65The Role of Principles 72Judges and Publicists 75Other Sources 77The Scope of International Law 78Chapter Summary 794 The Efficacy of International Law 85Legislating International Law 86Enforcing International Law 90Adjudicating International Law 94The Incorporation of International Law 106Can There Be a Future World Government? 109Chapter Summary 1105 Jurisdiction: Domain over Places and Persons 115Territorial Jurisdiction 116Law of the Sea 117Airspace 124Outer Space 126Satellites 128The Polar Regions 130Nationality 132Dual Nationality 135Alien Status 137Sovereign Immunity and Act of State 140Extraterritoriality 141Extradition 143Chapter Summary 145Part II Making the World Safer 1496 Diplomacy in Pursuit of Peace 151A Brief History of Diplomacy 152The Rules of Diplomacy for States 155Two Special Issues concerning Embassies 158Rules for the Consular Relations of States 160The Peaceful Settlement of Disputes 163The Operating Conditions of Diplomacy 166The Rules of Diplomacy for IGOs 168The Special Case of the UN 171Chapter Summary 1747 Arms Limitations for a Less Violent World 179A Brief History of Arms Limitations 180Objectives of Arms Limitations 184Obstacles to Arms Limitations 185The Nuclear Regime 187The Biological Weapons Regime 196The Chemical Weapons Regime 198The Missile Control Regime 199The Conventional Weapons Regime 201Chapter Summary 2068 Law to Constrain Force 211A Brief History of the Laws Governing Force 212Evolution to UN Law 218Aggression 220Self-defense 223Self-defense in an Age of Terrorism 225Intervention 229Peacekeeping 231Today’s Salient Issues concerning the Laws of War 233Chapter Summary 2419 Core International Crimes: Atrocities That Shock the Conscience of Humankind 247A Brief History of Core International Crimes 248Crimes Against Peace 251Crimes against Humanity 252Genocide 254The Most Notorious Episodes of Genocide 257Special Dimensions of Genocide 261War Crimes 263The Contributions of International Tribunals 276Chapter Summary 280Part III Making the World Better 28510 Human Rights: Freedom and Protection for Humankind 287A Brief History of the Human Rights Movement 288Civil and Political Rights 292Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 296Group Rights 300A Human Rights Frontier? 305Human Rights Regimes 307The Role of Non-state Actors 311Chapter Summary 31311 The Global Environment in Jeopardy 319A Brief History of Environmental Developments 320Atmosphere 324Water 331Soil 335Forests 338Wildlife 340The Environment and Human Rights 344Environmental Governance 346Chapter Summary 34912 Rules for Sharing the World’s Wealth 355A Brief History of Economic Relations 356Governance from the North 359Standardizing the Global Economy 363Intellectual Property Rights 364Commercial Arbitration 366Globalism versus Regionalism 368Governance of the South 370Four Economic Flows in the North–South Relationship 374Counter-productive Issues for the Global Economy: Organized Crime, Corruption, and the Pursuit of Non-economic Goals 380Chapter Summary 385Part IV Making the Future 39113 The Problems and Prospects of International Law 392Glossary of Terms 396Bibliography 406Index 431

"Henderson seeks to provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the field of international law. Addressing its interrelationship with world politics, the text also features chapters on topics such as making the world safer, human rights, the environment and the world economy." (Times Higher Education, November 2010)