The end of World War II marked the beginning of a new golden era in international law. Treaties and international organisations proliferated at an unprecedented rate, and many courts and tribunals were established with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of this new universe of international relations. The network of courts and tribunals that exists today is an important feature of our global society. It serves as an alternative to other, sometimes more violent, forms of dispute settlement.
The process of international adjudication is constantly evolving, sometimes in unexpected ways. Through contributions from world-renowned experts and emerging voices, this book considers the future of international courts from a diverse range of perspectives. It examines some of the regional, institutional and procedural challenges that international courts face: the rising influence of powerful states, the turn to populism, the interplay between courts, the involvement of non-state actors and third parties in international proceedings, and more. The book offers a timely discussion of these challenges, with the future of several international courts hanging in the balance and the legitimacy of international adjudication being called constantly into question. It should also serve as a reminder of the importance of international courts for the functioning of a rules-based international order.
'The Future of International Courts' is essential reading for academics, practitioners and students who are interested in international law, including those who are interested in the role international courts play in international relations.
About the Author: Avidan Kent is a Senior Lecturer at the University of East Anglia. His research interests include the fields of Sustainable Development Law, International Dispute Resolution, International Economic Law, and Public International Law. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge.
Nikos Skoutaris is a Senior Lecturer in EU Law at the University of East Anglia. He obtained his LLB from the University of Aberdeen, his LLM from Maastricht University and his PhD from the European University Institute. His research interests lie in the intersection between EU law, comparative constitutional law and conflict resolution theory. He has published extensively on Brexit and its effect on the UK territorial constitution.
Jamie Trinidad is a Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge and the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge. His research and publications address, among other things, issues of self-determination, territory (land and sea) and the practice of international courts and tribunals. He is a practising barrister and he has a PhD from Cambridge.
