Akehurst's Modern Introduction to International Law, 10th ed

Alexander Orakhelashvili (Revising Author)

ISBN: 9781041127871

Published: August 2026

Format: Hardcover

Language: English

Publisher: Routledge

Description

Now in its tenth edition, Akehurst's Modern Introduction to International Law remains one of the most widely assigned textbooks in the field, valued for giving the shortest, clearest overview among the major treatises without sacrificing rigor. First published in 1970, the book has been thoroughly revised for this edition by Professor Alexander Orakhelashvili of the University of Birmingham, who incorporates more than forty-five decisions handed down by international and domestic courts, alongside new treaties and major developments in state practice recorded since the ninth edition. The text keeps its original transparent, positivist method and cross-jurisdictional approach, guiding readers through the structure, sources and institutions of international law before turning to the issues shaping the field today, from the use of force and state responsibility to human rights, the law of the sea and international economic relations. It is written for students approaching international law for the first time, as well as for practitioners and policymakers who need a dependable, up-to-date reference they can return to.

Key Features

• Thoroughly revised tenth edition incorporating more than 45 decisions of international and national courts, plus new treaties and state practice recorded since the ninth edition
• Retains the concise, transparent positivist method that has made it the shortest of the major international law textbooks without sacrificing analytical depth
• Cross-jurisdictional approach drawing on case law from multiple legal systems, suited to comparative and international law courses worldwide
• Clear chapter structure moving from foundations such as sources, personality and territory through to contemporary flashpoints including use of force and international criminal justice
• Long publishing pedigree dating to 1970, trusted across generations of international law teaching

Coverage

• History and sources of international law
• Statehood, recognition and legal personality of non-State entities
• Territory, the law of the sea, airspace and outer space
• State jurisdiction, immunity and the law of treaties
• State responsibility and State succession
• Human rights, group rights and self-determination
• Protection of the environment and international economic relations
• International criminal justice
• Use of force and the law of armed conflict
• The United Nations, peace and security, and settlement of disputes

About the Authors

Alexander Orakhelashvili is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Birmingham, where he has taught and researched international law for over 25 years across four British universities. A frequent speaker at international conferences, he has advised on public international law in litigation before English and American courts. His other publications include ten books, seven of them sole-authored monographs, among them Peremptory Norms in International Law (2006) and Causation in International Law (2022), together with more than ninety articles and book chapters. The text originated with Michael Akehurst, with later editions revised by Peter Malanczuk; this tenth edition continues that lineage under Professor Orakhelashvili's authorship.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   2. History
   3. Sources of international law
   4. International law and municipal law
   5. Creation and recognition of States
   6. Legal personality of non-State entities
   7. Territory
   8. The law of the sea
   9. Airspace and outer space
   10. State jurisdiction
   11. Immunity from jurisdiction
   12. Law of treaties
   13. State responsibility
   14. State succession
   15. Protected persons and entities: nationality and individual rights
   16. Protected persons and entities: human rights, group rights, and self-determination
   17. Protection of the environment
   18. International economic relations
   19. International criminal justice
   20. Use of force
   21. Laws applicable to war and armed conflict
   22. The United Nations and peace and security
   23. Settlement of disputes

Further Reading & Related Titles

Curious how this textbook helps make sense of a live controversy? Read our article on the CLNZ Books blog, “US Sanctions on the ICC Put International Criminal Justice to the Test — A Classic Textbook Revisits the Fundamentals” 

Looking for more? Visit and browse our Law Collection, a curated selection of titles for law libraries, law schools and legal professionals worldwide.

Why buy this book?

For law libraries building or refreshing an international law collection, the tenth edition of Akehurst's is close to an essential replacement purchase: it is the edition now being assigned by instructors, and earlier editions read as dated once new court decisions and treaties enter the literature. Its concise format also makes it a useful first point of reference for practitioners who need a reliable, well-organized overview of a specific area of international law without working through a multi-volume treatise.

Keywords

international law, public international law, international law textbook, Akehurst, Orakhelashvili, law of treaties, use of force, state responsibility, international courts, law of the sea

Target Audience

International law students and postgraduates, legal academics and law faculty, practitioners in public international law, government and policy officials, academic and law libraries

Genre

Public International Law, International Law, Legal Education and Textbooks

Q&A

What does the tenth edition of Akehurst's Modern Introduction to International Law add compared with the ninth edition?
It incorporates more than forty-five decisions from international and national courts, along with new treaties and major developments in state practice recorded since the ninth edition, revised throughout by Professor Alexander Orakhelashvili.

Who is this textbook written for?
It is aimed primarily at undergraduate and postgraduate students of international law, government and politics, and international relations, though its concise, well-organized format also makes it a dependable reference for practitioners and policy officials.

What approach does the book take to international law?
It keeps the original positivist method pioneered by Michael Akehurst, combined with a cross-jurisdictional approach that draws on case law and state practice from multiple legal systems rather than a single national tradition.

How does this edition compare to other leading international law textbooks?
It is widely regarded as the shortest of the major international law textbooks, giving readers a concise, complete overview of the field's core concepts without the length of multi-volume treatises.

Where can I buy Akehurst's Modern Introduction to International Law, 10th ed?
You can order it directly from CLNZ Books, with worldwide shipping and institutional invoicing available for libraries and law firms.

📘 Learn more about shipping, delivery times, and returns, see our FAQ here

📦 New to ordering with us? See our How to Order guide for payment, shipping, and institutional order options.