Andrew Clapham is a distinguished legal scholar who specializes in public international law and human rights law. His academic work is deeply informed by his extensive practical experience in international human rights advocacy, including significant roles at the United Nations and with Amnesty International. He brings a unique perspective to his teaching and research, bridging the gap between theory and the realities of international law and human rights.
The book offers a clear exploration of modern warfare laws, emphasizing the paradox of states asserting their right to conduct wars despite the legal prohibition against war as an institution. It examines concepts such as self-defense, lawful killings during conflict, and the treatment of detainees under wartime laws, highlighting the ongoing complexities and contradictions in international law surrounding warfare.
Focusing on highly topical issues such as torture, arbitrary detention, privacy, and discrimination, this book will help readers to understand for themselves the controversies and complexities behind human rights.
Revised and updated for the first time in fifty years, this new edition of a classic text of international law provides the ideal introduction to the field for students and scholars alike. It introduces the key themes and ideas within international law in concise, clear language, building on Brierly's idea that law must serve a social purpose.