What is public international law?
Public International Law is composed of the laws, rules, and principles of general application that deal with the conduct of nation-states and international organisations among themselves as well as the relationships between nation-states and international organisations with persons, whether natural or juridical. Public International Law is sometimes called the "law of nations" or just simply International Law. It should not be confused with Private International Law, which is primarily concerned with the resolution of conflict of national laws, determining the law of which country is applicable to specific situations.
Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias
The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (UniMelb staff & student access) is a comprehensive online resource containing over 1600 scholarly articles on every aspect of public international law.
The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International LawCall Number: E-book (UniMelb staff & student access)
Parry & Grant brings together terminology and descriptive information on international law. Its alphabetical arrangement offers concise but substantial information on essentials of international law such as Legal terms as used in international law; Significant doctrines; Prominent cases, decisions and arbitration; Important incidents; Judicial and literary figures; Treaties and conventions; Organizations and institutions; and Acronyms. This is available in both print and as an e-book.
Parry and Grant Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law by Call Number: E-bookPublication Date: OUP, 3rd ed, 2009
Oxford Bibliographies - International Law (UniMelb staff & student access) provides concise and authoritative scholarly commentary and bibliographical guidance on many international law topics, arranged alphabetically. More on the topics included.
- Oxford Bibliographies - International Law (Oxford)(University of Melbourne staff and students access only)
The Effect of International Law on Domestic Law
Books on this topic are shelved at KC 86 and KC 334.1 on Level 5 of the Law Library. Also check the catalogue for E-books.
Books that usefully compare many countries include:
International Law and Domestic Legal Systems: incorporation, transformation, and persuasion by Call Number: E-bookPublication Date: OUP, 2011
The Fluid State: international law and national legal systems by Call Number: Law High Use KC 86 FLUIPublication Date: Federation Press, 2005
See also:
Courts, Codes, and Custom: legal tradition and state policy toward international human rights and environmental law by Call Number: KC 82Publication Date: Oxford University Press, 2014
The Intersection of International Law and Domestic Law: a theoretical and practical analysis by Call Number: E-bookPublication Date: Elgar, 2015
See also:
- SSRN eLibraryAlter, Karen J, 'National Perspectives on International Constitutional Review: Diverging Optics' in Erin Delaney and Rosalind Dixon (eds) Comparative Judicial Review (Edward Elgar, 2018) Chapter available on SSRN (open access)
International Law - Historical Documents
- Making of Modern Law : Foreign, Comparative and International Law 1600-1926This collection is an invaluable collection of legal treatises, historical records and works from the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Providing broad coverage, the collection enables detailed research on centuries of major events of legal history, from public policy and taxation to contract law, sustainable development concerns, and issues of war and peace.
- History of International LawThe History of International Law collection on HEIN Online includes more than 800 full text publications dating back to 1690 on International Law subjects such as War & Peace, the Nuremberg Trials, Law of the Sea, International Arbitration, Hague Conferences and Conventions.
History of International Law Timeline
The History of International Law Timeline (open access from Oxford Academic) is a concise map of 'the broad history of public international law with particular attention paid to the signing of major treaties, the foundation of fundamental institutions, the birth of major figures in international law and milestones in the development of some of the field’s best-known doctrines'. The timeline begins with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.
Books on the History of International Law
Oxford University Press has compiled a useful reading list of open access book chapters on the History and Theory of International Law.
See also:
The History and Theory of International Law by ISBN: 9781789901733Publication Date: 2020-06-05Encompassing the history and theory of international law, the author writes a timely and important review of this debated topic. Covering various topics including primitive legal scholarship, medieval law and the Grotian Tradition, this original piece explores the topic of International Law in a comprehensive and refreshing manner.
Rights and Civilizations: A History and Philosophy of International Law by Call Number: E-bookPublication Date: CUP, 2019
The Hidden History of International Law in the Americas: empire and legal networks by Call Number: KC 123 U48 SCARPublication Date: OUP, 2017
System, Order, and International Law: The Early History of International Legal Thought from Machiavelli to Hegel by Call Number: E-bookPublication Date: OUP, 2017
International Law and Empire: historical explorations by Call Number: KC 102 INTEPublication Date: OUP, 2017
The Oxford Handbook of the History of International Law by Call Number: KC 102 OXFO Also available as an e-bookPublication Date: Oxford University Press, 2012
Research Handbook on the Theory and History of International Law by Call Number: e-bookPublication Date: Edward Elgar, 2011
Other Online Research Guides
Books on Researching International Law
International Legal Research in a Global Community by Call Number: KL 155 KUEHPublication Date: Carolina Academic Press, 2018
International Legal Research in a Nutshell by Call Number: KL 155 HOFFPublication Date: West, 2nd ed, 2017
International Law Legal Research by Call Number: KL 155 WINEPublication Date: Carolina Academic Press, 2013
International and Foreign Legal Research by Call Number: KL 155 HOFFPublication Date: Martinus Nijhoff, 2012
- International Legal Research TutorialThis tutorial is designed to teach students research strategies and methodology for researching both print and electronic sources of international legal materials. The tutorial includes review questions and a final review to give students an understanding of how these materials are organized, and to teach them how to locate international legal documents such as treaties, agreements and the documentation of international organizations.
Citing international law documents using AGLC4
Part IV (pp 133-210) of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th ed, 2018) provides information on citing:
- Treaties
- United Nations Materials
- International Court of Justice and Permanent Court of International Justice
- International Arbitral and Tribunal Decisions
- International Criminal Tribunals and Courts
- International Economic Materials
- European Union Materials
- Australian Guide to Legal CitationSee Part IV (pp 133-210)