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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).
 

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." 
 

 

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."

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.

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 

           

 

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.   

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.  

 

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.

When Was This Guide Last Updated?

This LibGuide was last substantively updated:

On: July 7, 2025

At:  9:50 AM

By: Jean Davis