The Law of International Organizations

This edition updates and expands the first.

This problem-oriented coursebook is designed to expose students to the most significant current legal issues relating to international organizations in a stimulating format. Each chapter begins with a role-playing exercise or simulation in the form of an introductory problem, which places the subsequent material in an exciting and realistic context. The Second Edition updates all of the existing chapters, and adds new chapters addressing organizations not covered in the First Edition, including the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and Interpol. In addition, it focuses on timely new issues, including the legality of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, protection of cultural property and artifacts, and balancing human rights and national security in the context of the war on terrorism.

The book covers issues relevant to many kinds of international organizations, focusing mainly on international organizations that are within the U.N. system, including the U.N. Secretariat, General Assembly, Security Council, Sanctions Committee, Credentials Committee, International Court of Justice, Human Rights Commission, International Financial Institutions, and International Criminal Tribunals. Scharf addresses such issues as political obstacles to the effective functioning of international organizations, interpretation of the Charters and regulations governing international organizations, questions of financing, credential challenges, succession problems, privileges and immunities disputes, efforts at Security Council reform, application and interpretation of U.N. sanctions resolutions, U.N. peacekeeping controversies, the issue of humanitarian intervention, and the role of international law in U.N. organized peace negotiations.

"Professor Michael Scharf's book fills a much-needed niche in UN Studies. In a field that is crying out for an up-to-date casebook, The Law of International Organizations delivers that and much more. Scharf's simulations, role-playing exercises, and policy debates will stimulate students and make them aware that international institutional law is vitally important to how the world works today."
- Jose Alvarez, Professor of International Law, Columbia Law School on the first edition