Law and Practice of the United Nations

The third edition of this classic casebook continues to fulfill the vision of its originators, the eminent scholar Thomas Franck and the distinguished public servant David Malone. Its carefully curated primary materials and real world cases demonstrate why the UN system remains indispensable to lawyers, diplomats, and policymakers seeking to address global challenges like pandemics, on-going conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, the UN's own liquidity crisis, or the promises and perils of AI. For teachers of international relations and law, it remains a godsend. * José E. Alvarez, Herbert and Rose Rubin Professor of International Law, New York University School of Law *
For nearly two decades, Law and Practice of the United Nations has been the leading teaching text on how the United Nations operates as a legal and political institution. This thoroughly revised third edition combines primary materials with expert commentary to reveal the interaction of law, politics, and practice at the heart of the organization. Written by three authors with deep scholarly expertise and first-hand experience working in the United Nations, this book is an indispensable resource not only for students of international law but for anyone who wishes to truly understand the United Nations. * Oona Hathaway, Gerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professor of International Law, Yale Law School, and President, American Society of International Law *
When a fire is dying out in a fireplace, it is important to keep a few embers alive so that the fire can be rekindled quickly. Similarly, international law seems to be burning out today. Yet, we must keep a few embers of international law alive for the day will come when it returns forcefully. This impressive treatise will help to revive the flames of international law. * Kishore Mahubani, Former Singapore Ambassador to the United Nations; author of "Has China Won?" *
The third edition of Law and Practice of the United Nations draws back the curtain on a global order in unprecedented turbulence. It is an incisive and invigorating exploration of the UN as a "living tree," seeking to shape the rules of international conduct. Blending primary research with sharp scholarly analysis, it follows international law and power in action-from Ukraine and Gaza to AI governance and COVID-19-asking whether the UN can still drive collective action and foster international peace and cooperation. Magisterial, unsparing and vital, this volume is the definitive manual for an era in which the rules-based international order is fraying at the edges, and multilateralism is floundering in the face of deepening geopolitical fissures. * Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of the Parliament of India and former UN Under-Secretary-General *
For all the relevance of the United Nations, there is surprisingly little good, comprehensive literature available on what the UN is, what it does, and why it is important. This volume, a classic in a new and updated edition, is probably the best: written by knowledgeable authors, it covers much of the sprawling activities of the UN in detail and with insight. Indispensable. * Jan Klabbers, Whewell Professor of International Law, University of Cambridge *