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International Law

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International Law is the definitive and authoritative text on the subject. It has long been established as a leading authority in the field, offering an unbeatable combination of clarity of expression and academic rigour, ensuring understanding and analysis in an engaging and authoritative style. Explaining the leading rules, practice and caselaw, this treatise retains and develops the detailed referencing which encourages and assists the reader in further study. This new edition has been fully updated to reflect recent developments. In particular, it has expanded the treatment of space law and of international economic law, and introduced new sections on cyber operations and cyber warfare, as well as reflecting the Covid-19 crisis. Both clarifying fundamental principles and facilitating additional research, International Law is invaluable for students and for those occupied in private practice, governmental service and international organisations.

1310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 1991

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About the author

Malcolm N. Shaw

7 books22 followers

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5 stars
210 (48%)
4 stars
135 (31%)
3 stars
54 (12%)
2 stars
23 (5%)
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7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Kamilia Barkasi.
34 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2024
if you find yourself in a position where you need to read the entire book in order to pass a class, don’t try to do it in the span of 3 weeks, and definitely don’t travel and ignore the book for 8 full days out of those 3 weeks. the book itself is fine, very informative, although at times a little frustrating because it’s clearly written from a western pov, but the situation and duress I read this under made my life a living hell. I can’t tell you how much of this I retained, but the exam is open book (hence me reading and annotating it all in such a short amount of time), so I think I’ll be fine.

note: if this is your textbook for IL, you don’t need to be afraid-just please read as the class progresses to save yourself a lot of pain in the long run. on the other hand, if you picked this up at some scholastic book fair because you want to self educate… consider your life choices and put the book down. go listen to a podcast or something.
Profile Image for Jiewei Li.
207 reviews4 followers
May 21, 2023
Good basic overview. At times, but arguably verbose. Provided good intros to each subject before other textbooks, reading cases, and scholarly articles.
15 reviews
February 11, 2015
This new edition is absolutely excellent. Highly recommended. Covers all the essential topics from philosophical concerns (what is international law and how is it binding? what are the sources of it?), to international criminal law and various tribunals and human-rights concerns. An excellent resource for students and practitioners alike.
Profile Image for Jared Donis.
331 reviews58 followers
October 3, 2022
A decade after law school, I finally got to finish the entire content of this book. Brushed up on concepts which I have almost forgotten. Shaw’s work is a standard textbook on international law. I benefited from a combined reading of this edition and the latest one (ninth edition). It was a slow read due to the rich explanations provided in each chapter (perhaps only law books have hundreds of footnotes for a single chapter). Nevertheless, he covers almost everything and gives plentiful relevant materials for further advanced reading.

Shaw’s diligence in updating this work is truly remarkable. He has added recent developments in the field in each topic.

Admirable professional! Kudos to you, sir.
Profile Image for Daniel Frank.
312 reviews57 followers
February 10, 2013
probably the best textbook on international law. However, its a 1000+ page book on international law, so...

Profile Image for Will Norton.
56 reviews1 follower
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February 16, 2021
This book is extremely technical and length, as you would expect from a Cambridge textbook. I found the United Nations chapter informative but the rest is somewhat of a muck. The legal issues like repreparation and conflict resolution had a surface understanding with me having glimpsed at history. This is reading that I enjoyed yet didn't fully able to understand since I never set forth on the path to understand law. Still, Capitalism teaches us to all do only what are good at. Perhaps the surface understanding was enough for my internal learning pleasure and curiosity.
Profile Image for Kassidy Wheeler.
41 reviews
December 22, 2023
I did not appreciate this book in undergrad enough to prepare me for actually studying law. Although its dense and long it will give you most of what an international public law course discusses.

The only thing its lacking is the discussion of myth systems and international codes in the realm of international law and politics.
Profile Image for Edward Kasi.
8 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2017
Best International Law author and text in my opinion. His succinct explanations and the case law examples within,are like no other international Law text I've read before and after his book.
Profile Image for Matilde.
159 reviews15 followers
August 10, 2018
The only book so far to have cleared up reprisals and countermeasures for me.
Profile Image for Peter.
180 reviews
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January 8, 2019
So, the edition in the possession of this reviewer has 981 pages. Chapters 12 and 13 on jurisdiction and immunities from jurisdiction respectively, have numerous sections of text marked up in highlighter pen: and then came brexit. The issues raised in these chapters may find better coverage in Hazel Fox's Law of State Immunity; the scope of private international law is considered briefly on page one.
Profile Image for Ralph Janik.
4 reviews16 followers
September 29, 2018
the classic textbook. Unfortunately no chapters on international trade law and investment law. Big minus
1 review
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January 2, 2021
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Profile Image for Yusuf  Agah.
139 reviews8 followers
January 12, 2018
I found it too much detailed, particularly examples from jurisprudence and implementation of the UK and the US. It is much like that Shaw is promoting himself for an international judgeship. But it does not mean that it is not useful. There is absolutely huge amount of hard work behind this book.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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