The Power and Purpose of International Law : insights from the theory and practice of enforcement

The Power and Purpose of International Law provides a well-conceived explanation of the role of international law in today's world, and how there are no acceptable arguments to justify the use of torture and secret prisons, or to support the notion of a 'global battlefield.' By analyzing the history of ideas about international law and its actual operation, O'Connell has provided an important and timely work for citizens, students, and scholars.