Use of Force

Use of Force: the practice of states since World War II, Volume 1, examines the evolution of international law through the lens of actual state behavior. Arthur Mark Weisburd challenges the traditional reliance on the United Nations Charter, arguing that international law regarding interstate force is more accurately derived from consistent state practice than from formal treaties. By analyzing over one hundred interstate conflicts occurring between 1945 and 1991, this scholarly work provides a detailed look at how customary law shapes global interactions.

This text serves as a significant resource for students of international relations, world politics, and history. Weisburd focuses on the specific actions of states and the subsequent reactions of third parties to determine the true content of legal rules. By prioritizing empirical evidence over treaty language, Use of Force: the practice of states since World War II, Volume 1, offers a rigorous investigation into the mechanisms of international law and war.