Between Peril and Promise

The Politics of International Law

In this concise introduction to international law, students gain a clear appreciation for how politics shapes the development of international law, and how international law shapes political relations between states. Throughout the book, Rochester takes this complex subject and makes it accessible with his vibrant, easy-to-read prose.

After exploring the parameters of international law—its intrinsic challenges and the various approaches to it—Rochester then examines its five major sectors— the law of the sea, airspace, and outer space; human rights; war and peace; states and markets; and the environment—all through the lens of international relations theory. Students will appreciate numerous pedagogical features, such as instructive case studies, photos and cartoons, discussion questions, and—new to this edition—an "International Law in Action" box, which uses real-world cases to flesh out the inner workings of international law. Based on reviewer feedback, the author reorganized several chapters, bringing coverage of jurisdiction to the forefront in order to better set the stage for subsequent chapters. With updates to all of the book's data, factual information, and hundreds of endnotes, Rochester presents the latest IL scholarship in a clear and straightforward manner.