Malcolm N. Shaw - International Law

At a time of rapid change, a new edition of Malcolm Shaws invaluable book deserves the widest welcome.

Malcolm Shaws International Law continues to offer a uniquely comprehensive, rigorous and systematic account of the entire sphere of international law. Shaw has a masterful talent to carefully sift through the complex legally relevant data and to provide the reader with an accurate and accessible analysis of the state of the art without sacrificing sensitivity to multidimensionality and attention to relevant details. Shaws book was my introduction to international law, and over the years continued to serve as the introduction for generations of my students. The eighth edition continues this important tradition and offers yet another major contribution to international law.

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Malcolm N. Shaw 2021

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For my wife Judith. May her memory be a blessing.

The chapters in this book have been re-examined, updated and, where necessary, rewritten in order to try and cope with the ever-increasing volume of new materials on international law. I have, in particular, been able to increase the coverage of outer space and international economic law, and to introduce sections on cyber activities, cyber warfare and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. I have also been able to add somewhat to the chapters on international law and municipal law and on recognition in the light of important case-law. However, to compensate, some trimming has been necessary in other parts to free up the necessary space.

I would especially like to thank the Cambridge University Press team of Caitlin Lisle, Marianne Nield and Amy Mower for their help and encouragement in the production of this edition and to Finola OSullivan who has monitored this work through many editions now. She is a friend as well as a guide. I am also grateful to Sophie Rosinke for the thorough and excellent copy-editing of the text and preparation of the tables and to Judy Oliver for so carefully preparing the index. Particular appreciation is owed to Tim Clark for his meticulous research assistance, accomplished with speed and organisation. A lasting debt remains, however, to Sir Elihu Lauterpacht QC, a towering figure in international law, whose encouragement and assistance in the initial development of this book were indispensable. His continuing interest and friendship were always deeply appreciated and are now much missed. I would also like to thank my many colleagues from around the world for their advice and support, while reassuring them that all responsibility for the end product rests squarely with me.