Complete International Law: Texts, Cases, and Materials

Author: Ademola Abass

Edition: First

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Pages: 776

Price: £33.99

ISBN: 9780199578702

International law has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent decades and has become a popular subject of study. Many textbooks have tried to offer coverage of public international law; here, however, Ademola Abass has succeeded in creating a book that is unique in its pedagogical approach and comprehensive coverage.

Complete International Law: Texts, Cases and Materials introduces some of the most complex contemporary concepts of public international law. Its objective is to provide a learning tool for undergraduate students of international law by adopting an "accessible language aiming at demystifying some of the most technical and difficult concepts" of the subject. To achieve that objective, the author uses a number of pedagogical features aimed at enhancing students' understanding, including discussion questions and assessment questions.

Well written and detailed, the text traces the significant growth of international law to the present day, covering areas such as human rights, international criminal law, international economic law and international environmental law. Particular merit attaches to the chapter on international environmental law, as it deals with the more recent developments in international law. Especially valuable is the detail in citing relevant case law.

The author's expertise is reflected in the book's clear structure. It is divided into 17 chapters, with each offering extracts from a range of cases, legislation and materials that assist the student in comprehending the background information. Each chapter begins with clearly identified learning objectives and contains numerous useful features throughout, including key point summaries and questions to prompt students to engage independently with the subject matter and to inspire further investigation. Students' learning and understanding is reinforced by the conclusions, which summarise the key concepts. Finally, the list of further reading at the end of each chapter provides an indicative guide for students wishing to explore and study particular issues further. The aforementioned features not only enrich students' understanding but may also serve as additional support as they progress through their international law studies.

This text may be of interest to a wide range of readers. It serves as a reference book for the reading of particular citations for legal experts; students of international law who are unfamiliar with the subject may use it as a textbook; and students who wish to explore particular aspects of international law further may use it as inspiration for research.

Who is it for? Essential reading for international law undergraduates.

Presentation: Accessible and clear.

Would you recommend it? Yes, highly.