The fully revised seventh edition of this successful textbook explains the legal and diplomatic methods and organisations used to solve international disputes, how they work and when they are used. It looks at diplomatic (negotiation, mediation, inquiry and conciliation) and legal methods (arbitration, judicial settlement). It uses many, up-to-date examples of each method in practice to place the theory of how the law works in real-life situations, demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses of different methods when they are used.
Fully updated throughout, the seventh edition includes a new introduction explaining the common principles of settlement and a chapter on investor-state arbitration, as well as recommended further readings at the end of each chapter. It is an essential resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses on international dispute settlement.
About the Authors
J. G. Merrills was Emeritus Professor of International Law at the University of Sheffield, and held visiting posts at the Universities of Auckland and Toronto. For eight years, he was Alternate Member of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. He authored seven books and over seventy journal articles, and was on the editorial board of the Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence.
Eric De Brabandere is Professor of International Dispute Settlement Law and Director of the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden University. He is also Attorney-at-Law at the Brussels Bar, practising in international law and investment arbitration, and Editor-in-Chief of the Leiden Journal of International Law. Eric De Brabandere is a general international lawyer, with special expertise in international investment law and arbitration, and international dispute settlement. He teaches on international dispute settlement and international investment law and arbitration.
Industry Reviews
'For several decades, Professor Merrills' book has been the standard reference text in the field of international dispute settlement, and that is bound to continue with the publication of the seventh edition with the co-authorship of Professor Eric De Brabandere. Merrills' International Dispute Settlement offers an excellent introduction to this fascinating field and provides many useful insights into the resolution of international disputes by diplomacy, international adjudication and the workings of international and regional organisations. It is quite simply an indispensable text for scholars, practitioners and students of public international law.' Chester Brown, The University of Sydney
'The new edition of International Dispute Settlement by Merrills and De Brabandere is most welcome. It provides a comprehensive account of the numerous developments in this area, as well as the pitfalls of the field. It also offers a refined and transversal account of the role of consent, and of the many jurisdictional and procedural issues that arise before international courts and tribunals. International Dispute Settlement is a must-have reference work for academics, students and practitioners dealing with dispute settlement.' Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, University of Geneva, and Director of the Geneva Center for International Dispute Settlement (CIDS)
'This text is a wonderful resource for students, scholars and practitioners alike. Its extensive and updated analysis of key international dispute mechanisms, as well as key controversies, makes a significant contribution to the field of international law, as well as international relations.' Michelle Burgis-Kasthala, University of Edinburgh
