Most books on international commercial arbitration approach the subject through legal theory supported by anecdotal evidence. This remarkable book is distinguished by its focus on the application of quantitative empirical research to the study of international arbitration. It collects, together with commentary, the existing empirical literature on the subject, and also presents several studies published here for the first time. Written in an easily accessible, non-technical manner, Towards a Science of International Arbitration provides the starting point for future empirical research on international arbitration by collecting the existing empirical literature in one place and by suggesting possible topics for research.

The Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, which has been called the most significant arbitral body in history, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2006. As of mid-2005, the Tribunal had issued over 800 awards and decisions--a total of 600 awards (including partial awards and awards on agreed terms), 83 interlocutory and interim awards, and 133 decisions--in resolving almost 3000 cases. The Tribunal's awards have been described as the most important body of international arbitration jurisprudence. The significance of these decisions as persuasive authority is second to none.
In this volume, experts in the field identify and comment on the Tribunal awards that are most important for international arbitration; i.e., the cases that everyone needs to know for investor-state and international commercial arbitration. The book approaches the Tribunal's work from a forward-looking perspective with emphasis on the continuing usefulness of awards and decisions issued by the Tribunal in international arbitration practice.
In addition to original contributions from an array of eminent authors (all of whom have extensive experience at the Tribunal and/or in investor-State and international arbitration), this book includes excerpts of key awards discussed in the contributions, as well as appendices with foundational documents for the Tribunal.
CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE:
Roger P. Alford, Pepperdine University School of Law, former Legal Assistant, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
David J. Bederman, Emory Law School, former Legal Assistant, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
David D. Caron, C. William Maxeiner Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley, former Legal Assistant, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
Jack J. Coe, Jr. Pepperdine University School of Law, former Legal Assistant, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
Christopher R. Drahozal, John M. Rounds Professor of Law, University of Kansas School of Law; former Legal Assistant, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
Christopher S. Gibson, Suffolk University Law School; former Legal Assistant, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
Mark R. Joelson, Law Office of Mark R. Joelson
Lucinda A. Low, Steptoe & Johnson
Andrea J. Menaker, Office of the Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of State
Sean D. Murphy, George Washington University Law School, former U.S. Agent to the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
Daniel M. Price, Sidley Austin, former Deputy U.S. Agent to the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
Jeffrey F. Pryce, Steptoe & Johnson