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Paper Topic Selection: International

What Is International Law? Find BLS Library's Books

Click here to view an extensive list of BLS Library's sources classified by subject: International Law (displayed "newest to oldest"). 

BLS Library also added to Reserve these recent overviews: International Business Transactions in a Nutshell (12th ed. 2025), International Trade Law, Including Trump Revisited, in a Nutshell (9th ed. 2025), and International Intellectual Property in a Nutshell (2025).  

What Is International Law? These Are Useful Starting Points

Brownlie's Principles of Public International Law (9th ed. 2019) by James Crawford

Treatise.  In SARA catalog record, click: ACCESS ONLINE VERSION - OXFORD.  2 print copies (call #: KZ3225.B76 A37 2019) also are on Reserve

In ebook's Contents, drill down to: Part I. Preliminary topics > 2. The sources of international law (beginning on p. 18).
 

International Law: Cases and Materials (8th ed. 2025) by Lori F. Damrosch, Sean D. Murphy & Julian Arato

Casebook.  1 print copy (call #: KZ1242.5 .I578 2025) is on Reserve.

Includes: Ch. 1: Nature of International Law Ch. 2.: Sources: Customary International Law + Ch. 3. Law of Treaties + Ch. 4: General Principles of Law and Subsidiary Sources + Ch. 5: Other Sources of International Law..
1 print copy (call #: KZ1242.5 .I578 2025) is on Reserve.

If a BLS faculty member adopts this casebook (published by West Academic) in fall 2025: A BLS student will be able to either sign in w/ a BLS email to an existing account or to create an account from the sign in page at eproducts.westacademic.com for free, temporary access (=1 week before semester begins + 1st two weeks of semester) to International Law: Cases and Materials (8th ed. 2025)Also, West Academic will provide a "discount window" for BLS students to purchase a discounted version of this casebook.  Students who experience any issues or have specific questions can contact  accountmanager@westacademic.com.   

Introduction to International Law by Robert Beckman & Dagmar Butte

12-page overview, publicly accessible.  Purpose (p. 1) states: "This document is intended to provide students an overview of international law and the structure of the international legal system."

Principles of International Law (4th ed, c2025) by Sean D. Murphy

Hornbook/study aid.  BLS Library provides: 1 digital copy that circulates for 2 hours (like a Reserve book) + 1 print copy (call #: KZ1322 .M87 2025) on Reserve.  In SARA catalog record for digital copy, click: ACCESS ONLINE VERSION - EBSCO.

Excerpt from summary: "The first part of the book addresses how international law is created, interpreted, and enforced; the second part focuses on the interface of international law and national law, with an emphasis on U.S. law; and the final part covers key subject matter areas: human rights, injury to foreigners, the law of the sea, international environmental law, international criminal law, the use of force, and arms control." 
 

 

Principles of Legal Research (4th ed. 2025) by Kent Olson & Aaron Kirschenfeld

Hornbook/research guide. 1 print copy (call # KF240 .O378 2025) is on Reserve.

Includes Ch. 17: International Law + Ch. 18: The Law of Other Countries + Appendix: Selected Treatises by Subject. Authors provide a regularly updated list of links to sites referenced in their book @ https://guides.lib.unc.edu/plr4th. This list includes Bluebook Rules referenced in their book, updated through the 22nd ed. (2025) of The Bluebook.

Public International Law: Conventions, Cases and Commentary (c2024) by John Balouziyeh

Preface by Charles L.O. Buderi states: "In this exhaustive and meticulously-researched book, John Balouziyeh sets out in reference-book style a virtual encyclopedia of the world of international law, its origins, sources, institutions, rules, developing trends and current challenges."  BLS Library provides multiple digital copies in subscription Kluwer Arbitration database.  

Includes: Ch. 1: Introduction + Ch. 2: International Organizations and International Law + Ch. 3: Sources of International Law Ch. 4: States and Governments in the International Order.  

 

Public International Law in a Nutshell (c2025) by Sean D. Murphy

Nutshell/study aid.  
BLS Library provides 1 digital copy that circulates for 2 hours (like a Reserve book) + 1 print copy (call #:KZ1242.5.B84 2025) on Reserve.   In SARA catalog record for digital copy, click: ACCESS ONLINE VERSION - EBSCO.

Includes: Ch. 1: Application and Relevance of International Law + Ch. 2: Sources of International Law 

           

 

Statute of the International Court of Justice @ website of International Court of Justice

ICJ's Statute. publicly accessible.

Article 38 of ICJ's Statute states the sources of law the ICJ applies.

When Was This Guide Last Updated?

This LibGuide was last substantively updated:

On: July 7, 2025

At:  9:50 AM

By: Jean Davis