The UN Security Council and International Law

The UN Security Council and International Law explores the legal powers, limits and potential of the United Nations Security Council, offering a broadly positive (and positivist) account of the Council’s work in practice. This book aims to answer questions such as ‘when are Council decisions binding and on whom?’, ‘what legal constraints exist on Council decision making?’ and ‘how far is the Council bound by international law?’. Defining the controlling legal rules and differentiating between what the Council can do, as opposed to what it should do as a matter of policy, this book offers both a tool for assessment of the Council as well as realistic solutions to address its deficiencies, and, most importantly, evaluates its potential for maintaining international peace and security, to the benefit of us all.

Introduces the legal aspects relating to the authority and practice of the United Nations Security Council
Distinguishes between important issues of law and policy that relate to the powers and practice of the Security Council, i.e. between what the Security Council can do legally and what it ought to do or can do as a matter of policy
Presents a clear legal framework for understanding the function and actions of the Security Council