How to Study International Law by Professor Donna Arzt. International law is different from almost everything else you will study in law school. Others of you will be very frustrated and feel that it is really more of a political science course than a law course. It is true that there is much more policy and theory and much less doctrine and procedure in international law than in any first year law course. But that doesn't mean that international law isn't law.
All law is political, that is, contextual.
You are lucky to be studying international law at such an exciting time. With the demise of Communism and the end of the Cold War, we are witnessing tremendous political, social and economic changes that are translating into new functions and heightened expectations for international law. Changes in the balance of power, increased status for the UN and the World Court, the formation of new states, the disintegration of others, and awareness of environmental and nationalistic problems all affect and are affected by international law. At the same time, however, these changes can be overwhelming and anxiety-producing. The rules of international law are amorphous enough to begin with.