International court decisions: Arbitration, Permanent Court of International Justice, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

  This book contains over 200 summaries of international court decisions on inter-state disputes. The topic is about arbitration court decisions (including courts formed under the aegis of the Permanent Court of Arbitration) of the Permanent Court of International Justice formed by the League of Nations, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. A summary of decisions of the International Court of Justice is not provided but can be found on the Court website. The summary reveals the basis of the court’s jurisdiction, the particularities of the process, main facts, arguments of the parties, pretexts and the court’s conclusions. The most important parts of the decisions are provided in direct quotes.

   Many of the summaries are divided into paragraphs that structure the text in a conceptual manner. Many of the decisions put forward have acquired precedential value, influenced law-making (concluding agreements and creating customs), and facilitated the development of doctrine. Some decisions have become the concluding stage in the regulation of complex political disputes. In a number of cases courts have used approaches that are not applied at present, but which still retain their potential; resolving a dispute ex aequo et bono, combining judicial functions with conciliation and the like.

   The book is divided into four parts. The decisions are listed in the same order as they appear on the websites of each corresponding court, or, in the case of arbitration courts, in chronological order.The book spans from 1794 (Jay’s Treaty) until the present day. A thematic index arranges the decisions by areas of international relations (branches of international law).

   The book is recommended to teachers of international law, students and graduates who are studying this subject, diplomats, lawyers, those practicing international law and all those interested in international relations.