The Oxford Guide to Treaties

From trade relations to greenhouse gasses, from shipwrecks to cybercrime, treaties structure the rights and obligations of states, international organizations, and individuals. For centuries, treaties have regulated relations among nation states. Today, they are the dominant source of international law. Being adept with treaties and international agreements is an indispensable skill for anyone engaged in international relations, including international lawyers, diplomats, international organization officials, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The Oxford Guide to Treaties provides a comprehensive guide to treaties, shedding light on the rules and practices surrounding the making, interpretation, and operation of these instruments. Leading experts provide essays designed to introduce the law of treaties and offer practical insights into how treaties actually work. Foundational issues are covered, including what treaties are and when they should be used, alongside detailed analyses of treaty formation, application, interpretation, and exit. Special issues associated with treaties involving the European Union and other international organizations are also addressed. These scholarly treatments are complimented by a set of model treaty clauses. Real examples illustrate the approaches treaty-makers can take on topics such as entry into force, languages, reservations, and amendments. The Oxford Guide to Treaties thus provides an authoritative reference point for anyone involved in the creation or interpretation of treaties or other forms of international agreement.Introduction ; PART I. FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES ; 1. Defining Treaties ; 2. Alternatives to Treaty-Making: MOUs as Political Commitments ; 3. Who Can Make Treaties? International Organizations ; 4. Who Can Make Treaties? The European Union ; 5. Who Can Make Treaties? Other Subjects of International Law ; 6. NGOs in International Treaty-Making ; PART II: TREATY FORMATION ; 7. Making the Treaty ; 8. Treaty Signature ; 9. Provisional Application of Treaties ; 10. Managing the Process of Treaty Formation-Depositaries and Registration ; 11. Treaty Reservations ; PART III: TREATY APPLICATION ; 12. The Territorial Application of Treaties ; 13. Third Party Rights and Obligations in Treaties ; 14. Treaty Amendments ; 15. Domestic Application of Treaties ; 16. State Succession in Respect of Treaties ; 17. Treaty Bodies and Regimes ; 18. Treaty Conflicts and Normative Fragmentation ; PART IV: TREATY INTERPRETATION ; 19. The Vienna Convention Rules on Treaty Interpretation ; 20. Specialized Rules of Treaty Interpretation: International Organizations ; 21. Specialized Rules of Treaty Interpretation: Human Rights ; PART V: AVOIDING OR EXITING TREATY COMMITMENTS ; 22. The Validity and Invalidity of Treaties ; 23. Reacting against Treaty Breaches ; 24. Exceptional Circumstances and Treaty Commitments ; 25. Terminating Treaties ; PART VI: TREATY CLAUSES AND INSTRUMENTS ; Initial Decisions on Treaty-Making ; Conditions on Joining a Treaty ; Constituting the Treaty and its Dissemination ; Applying the Treaty ; Amendments ; The End of Treaty Relations