Russell Buchan and Nicholas Tsagourias, Regulating the Use of Force in International Law. Stability and Change

Abstract

The fascinating topic of the use of force has merited the attention of several scholars and attempts to address its complexity are not few. However, as Russell Buchan and Nicholas Tsagourias say at the beginning of their book, ‘no topic is more emotive or attracts more attention in international law and relations than the use of force’ (Introduction, xvi). The most recent invasion of Ukraine has no doubt raised questions of whether the current legal framework on use of force has an enduring legacy. Some of the questions are certainly not new, but in this comprehensive book Russell Buchan and Nicholas Tsagourias explore in a refreshingly broad way how state practice and opinio juris, the Courts and academics have been challenging some traditional notions associated with the regulation of the use of force. For that purpose, the authors invite the reader to dig into the world of the regulation...