Since the third edition of this book was published in 1998 there have been many developments with a direct bearing on its subject. The ending of the Cold War and the consequent changes in Eastern Europe continue to affect both the evolution of regional organisations in Europe and the work of the United Nations. The World Trade Organization, a relatively newcomer seven years ago, is now firmly established and its arrangements for dispute settlement are widely used. The complex system set up by the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention has also started to function as cases have been taken to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or to arbitration. The International Court of Justice is busier now than at any time in its history, and both regional organisations and the United Nations have shown initiative in addressing disputes at the political level. It must, of course, also be noted that in 2003 Iraq was invaded without Security Council authorisation, thereby demonstrating the limitations of the Charter system of collective security and reminding us, yet again, of the distance to be travelled, if its provisions for dealing with the most serious disputes and situations are to be effective.

The aim of this new edition is to examine the techniques and institutions available to states for the peaceful settlement of disputes, taking full account of recent developments. Chapters 1 to 4 examine the so-called ‘diplomatic’ means of settlement: negotiation, where matters are entirely in the hands of the parties, then mediation, inquiry and conciliation, in each of which outside assistance is utilised.