Georgetown Law Library

• Study Aid - This is a useful resource to introduce or brush up on a new subject specialty.
• Preeminent Treatise - This is recognized by scholars and practitioners as one of the leading authorities on a specific subject.

International Law Treatises

Akehurst's modern introduction to international law, 8th ed. Peter Malanczuk.
INTL KZ1242 .M35 2006
7th edition also available electronically through Ebrary.

Includes definitions of important terms and concepts in international law as well as coverage of the history and sources of international law. Integrates modern theory and changing perspectives with a comprehensive mainstream European presentation relevant to students of all jurisdictions.

How nations behave: law and foreign policy. 2nd ed. Louis Henkin.
INTL KZ1305 .H45 1979
Classic exploration of international law as law both as distinct from international relations as well as operating inevitably within that political context. Still quoted, from new books to blogosphere: “It is probably the case that almost all nations observe almost all principles of international law and almost all of their obligations almost all of the time.” (p. 47).

International law and U.S. foreign policy. 2nd rev. ed. Carl Q. Christol .
INTL KF4581 .C57 2007
Presents an outline of the relationship between international law, and especially the United Nations Charter, and recent United States foreign policy.

International law as law of the United States, 2nd ed. Jordan J. Paust .
INTL KZ3160.P38 A35 2003
Explains and addresses uniquely American issues and Constitutional perspectives relating to international law up to its date of publication.

International legal research in a nutshell. Marci B. Hoffman, Robert C. Berring.
RR RES and INTL RES KZ1234 .H64 2008.  Also available on Westlaw.
Excellent outline of sources and approaches to researching international law.

Modern treaty law and practice. Anthony Aust.
INTL KZ1301 .A93 2007
The law of treaties is covered in extensive commentaries on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, but this work includes a more concise yet thorough analysis of the issues as well as broader material, ranging from the history of diplomacy, to the effects of changed circumstances, and on to include memoranda of understanding.

Oppenheim's International law. 9th ed. Jennings, R. Y. and Arthur Watts, eds.
INTL KZ3264 .I6 1948, 1992
Professor Mark Janis writes: “The most important English-language international law treatise spanning the twentieth century is Lassa Oppenheim's International Law: A Treatise that was first published in two volumes (on Peace and War & Neutrality) in 1905 and1906.  Oppenheim also prepared two volumes for the second edition of 1912.  When Oppenheim died in 1919, he had completed much of the work for another.”  (The first volume on “Peace” is an updated and revised version of the classic. Second and third volumes are planned. For the original scheme of Prof. Oppenheim, look at the 7th edition).

The power and purpose of international law: insights from the theory and practice of enforcement. Mary Ellen O'Connell.
INTL KZ1242 .O28 2008
Provides both a review and a demonstration of the enforcement of international law, supporting the view that its norms actually bring about consensus in many areas where crucial issues require resolution, such as the environment and human rights.

Principles of International Law.  Sean D. Murphy.
INTL KZ1322 .M87 2006
A valuable balancing of substantive content with thorough treatment, including a clear outline of the subject matter and treatment of leading cases as well as major concepts.

Principles of public international law. 7th ed. Ian Brownlie.
INTL KZ3225.B76 A37 2008
Starting his outline with the sources of international legal authority as outlined in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (treaties, tribunal decisions, etc.), Professor Brownlie goes on to integrate this scholarly treatment with more detail on the traditional subtopics such as recognition of states, sovereignty, state responsibility, and protection of individuals, groups, and the common heritage of the sea and the environment.

Public international law in a nutshell. Thomas Buergenthal
RR RES and INTL RES KZ3110.B84 A3 2007.  Also available on Westlaw.
Useful and concise introduction to the outline of public international law, which is accessible and yet authoritative.

Restatement of the law, third, the foreign relations law of the United States. American Law Institute.
INTL REF KF395.A2 F63 1987.  Also available on Westlaw.
This is the most authoritative statement of the United States’ approach to international law and diplomacy outside of the official set of digests and functions as a multivolume treatise. There are also earlier commentaries on the restatement (third) of the foreign relations law of the United States, ed. the International Lawyer ... [et al.][Chicago, Ill.] : American Bar Association, 1992  KF395.A2 F6762 1992 ].

© Georgetown University Law Library.
The guides may be freely downloaded and adapted for educational purposes, as long as proper credit is given. The guides may not be sold.