Principles of public international law

In the light of developments in international relations, this edition has been substan tially revised. In particular, chapters have been added on International Criminal Justice, and the Use or Threat of Force by States. The chapter on Human Rights and Self determination has been carefully restructured and the result is less historical in approach. The chapter on Legal Aspects of the Protection of the Environment has been expanded on the basis of recent work by the International Law Commission in the field of the management of risk. In Chapter 23 more emphasis is given to the elements (included in earlier editions) concerning the emerging system of multilateral public order, and this with particular reference to certain of the Articles on Responsibility of States for Inter nationally Wrongful Acts adopted by the International Law Commission in 2001.

Contemporary episodes of turbulence have been analysed with the level of caution called for in responding to very recent and dramatic events. The analytical process is in evitably a hostage to the facts, which may emerge after some delay, if at all. The problem of the efficacy of the law has long been with us. The system of international law will survive, as it has done before, both terrorism and breaches of international law by powerful states. Similarly, national legal systems usually survive both civil strife and corruption. In the long run, it is the attitude of the actors to the rule of law, and not to the rules as such, which is the source of the threat.