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Sociology

Researching International Law

What is International Law?

International law is a set of rules and principles that govern the relationships between countries, international organisations, and individuals across borders. It covers a wide range of issues, from human rights and environmental protection to trade and armed conflict. Unlike domestic law, which is enforced by national governments, international law relies on the consent and cooperation of states to be effective.

Why Should Sociology Students Care About International Law?

As a sociology student, understanding international law can enrich your research and broaden your understanding of global social issues. Here's why:

  • Understanding Global Governance: International law provides a framework for how states and international organisations address global challenges like poverty, inequality, and climate change. Studying international law can help you understand the power dynamics and decision-making processes involved in global governance.
  • Analysing Social Impacts: International law can have profound social consequences. For example, international human rights law can impact social movements and individual liberties, while international trade law can influence economic development and inequality.
  • Researching Transnational Issues: Many social phenomena, such as migration, globalisation, and human trafficking, transcend national borders. International law provides a framework for understanding and addressing these transnational issues.

Types of International Legal Materials:

  • Treaties: Formal agreements between states that create binding legal obligations.
  • Customary International Law: Unwritten rules that have developed over time through state practice and are considered legally binding.
  • General Principles of Law: Fundamental legal principles common to most national legal systems.
  • Judicial Decisions and Writings of Experts: Decisions of international courts and tribunals, as well as scholarly writings, can help interpret and develop international law.

By exploring these materials, you can gain valuable insights into the role of international law in shaping global society and its impact on various social issues. This knowledge can enrich your sociological research and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the world around us.

How to Find International Law

Accessing and understanding law from international organisations, bodies, courts and tribunals is a key tool in research in sociology and related disciplines. Here are some key resources for finding relevant material:

Online Databases:

  • Westlaw and Lexis: These major legal databases offer extensive coverage of international law, including decisions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and other international and regional courts and tribunals. They also provide access to international treaties, conventions, and other legal documents relevant to international relations and politics.
  • HeinOnline's Law Journal Library: This comprehensive database provides access to a vast collection of international law materials, particularly American and Canadian, as well as academic articles and commentaries on international law.
  • International Court of Justice (ICJ) Website: The official website of the ICJ provides access to the full text of its judgments, advisory opinions, and other documents, offering a primary source for researching international law cases.

Official Websites of International Organisations, Courts and Tribunals:

  • United Nations Treaty Collection: The official repository of international treaties.
  • European Court of Human Rights (ECHR): The ECHR website provides access to its judgements, decisions, and other documents, making it a valuable resource for researching human rights law and its application in Europe.
  • World Trade Organization (WTO): The WTO website provides access to an extensive array of reports, statistics, treaties, judgements and commentary on a variety of subjects that interact with global trade law, such as poverty, Covid-19, gender and others.

Library Resources:

  • Library Search: Search the library's catalogue using keywords related to your research topic or the specific case you are looking for. You might find books, articles, or other resources that discuss or cite relevant international law cases.
  • Ask a Librarian: Your academic librarian can assist you in navigating the library's resources and finding relevant databases or publications.

Other Resources:

  • UN Audiovisual Library of International Law (AVL): This online platform provides access to videos of lectures, presentations, and interviews with international law experts, as well as case summaries and other educational resources.
  • WorldLII (World Legal Information Institute): This free resource provides access to legal materials from countries around the world, including the decisions of some international courts and tribunals.
  • CommonLII (Commonwealth Legal Information Institute): This free resource focuses on legal materials from Commonwealth countries, including the decisions of some regional and national courts that deal with international law issues.