Introduction to Public International Law

In the preamble of the United Nations Charter of 26 June 1945, the people expressed their hope to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which had brought untold sorrow to mankind. In view of the ongoing international and national armed conflicts around the globe, in particular the armed attack by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022, the aim of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security has still not been reached. Public international law alone cannot prevent the atrocities of international and national armed conflicts. It can, however, create a legal framework for reactions and countermeasures by states, establish forums and organizations for negotiations and also provide for institutions and courts for the questions of responsibility. Most importantly, international law endeavors to improve the situation of the people affected by international and national armed conflicts and other crises through institutions for the protection of human rights and international humanitarian law.
It, therefore, is still of great importance to study international law. Presenting a succinct and updated account of international law, the third edition of this book will be the ideal introduction for the interested English-speaking student. In addition, anybody interested in the foundation of the international legal order will find the book a useful point of entry to this fascinating field of study.
The basic premise underlying this book is that international law should not be studied as a vast collection of detailed rules, but is better approached by asking some questions about the basic structure of the system. First, there is the question of how international law is made: what are its sources? Second, what are the relations of international law and national legal systems? Third, to what entities does international law apply and finally, what does the law actually say? Regarding the last question, this introduction provides an overview of key areas of international law, such as international human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, international economic law and international environmental law.