Abstract

Shirley V. Scott’s recent work, International Law in World Politics: An Introduction, presents the reader with a structured and balanced treatment of the symbiosis between international law and politics, as well as a theoretical and practical survey of international law’s fundamental principles and major disciplines. Scott, who is a senior lecturer in international relations at the University of New South Wales, organizes each chapter as part of an overarching and cohesive whole.

The text discuss the primary actors that fuel the creation and continued existence of international law. The reader is presented with the historical background leading to the creation and recognition of the modern state. Described as the most important actors in both international law and world politics, states are also analyzed within terms of sovereignty and with respect to jurisdiction. The work then delves into the role of Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs). Because of its overwhelming importance, a discussion of the United Nations and a subsequent analysis of its principal organs and specialized agencies serves as the major focus in the text’s discourse on this topic. Apart the Security Council and General Assembly, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in particular, is given a sizeable amount of attention. The ICJ’s role of issuing decisions, advisory opinions and creating and clarifying international law are presented in depth.