'The book is written in a straightforward and slightly provocative style - one may refer to it as 'Dutch directness'. This makes the book a great pleasure to read. The many rhetorical and unanswered questions raised throughout the book provoke the reader to reflect critically on the materials and doctrine provided therein. Klabbers dishes up the usual materials, and he does sketch the doctrines, like all other textbooks, but then he leaves it up to the reader to draw the conclusions ? By distancing itself from today's immediate challenges, the book shows the reader that international law does more than simply chase after such events, always arriving too late to make a difference.' Otto Spijkers, Professor of International Law at the China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS), Wuhan University, China

'No-one is better at explaining the nuance of international law while keeping an eye squarely on the details than Jan Klabbers. This new edition of his groundbreaking textbook is a terrific update to an essential book. The book charts the theories and assumptions that make up the international legal system while telling engaging stories about the histories and cases that constitute its practice. The combination is readable, informative, and unmatched among international law textbooks.' Ian Hurd, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Weinberg College Center for International and Area Studies, Northwestern University

'The new edition of this textbook offers well-organised and updated reading material, always with the author's signature combination of systemic rigour and political sensibility, liveliness and academic thoroughness. The textbook is highly recommended for an intelligent and contextualised introduction to international law.' Catherine Brölmann, Associate Professor of international law, Department of International Law, University of Amsterdam

'Refreshing and argumentative, but also clear and concise - this textbook is a must for those wanting to combine the acquisition of knowledge with a deeper appreciation of the disagreements and controversies that abound in International Law.' Nigel White, School of Law, University of Nottingham
Jan Klabbers is Professor of International Law at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He studied international law and political science at the University of Amsterdam. He is a regular consultant to a number of international organizations and has been visiting professor at a number of institutions of higher learning, including the Graduate Institute (Geneva) and Sorbonne (Paris). He directed the Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence in Global Governance Research 2006-2011, and from 2013 to 2018 held the Martti Ahtisaari Chair.