The writings of jurists are important in describing and analysing evolving norms and identifying general principles of law. In the absence of decisions of international tribunals, the body of international legal doctrine depends on the articulation of jurisprudence in books and journal articles.
(Source: Gillian Triggs, International Law: Contemporary Principles and Practices (LexisNexis, 2nd ed, 2011)
See:
Sondre Torp Helmersen, 'Finding "the Most Highly Qualified Publicists": Lessons from the International Court of Justice' (2019) 30(2) European Journal of International Law 509–535. Available on open access from OUP.
Sandesh Sivakumaran, 'The Influence of Teachings of Publicists on the Development of International Law' (2017) 66 International and Comparative Law Quarterly 1-37. Available on open access on SSRN.