The extent to which law circumscribes the activities of states is an old dilemma in international law. The traditional position of the states has been that some areas of international relations are not susceptible to legal resolution. This arises from a desire to protect as much sovereignty as possible. Opposed to this is the position which suggests that there are no issues to which international law does not speak. At stake is the usefulness of international adjudication.

This book addresses this political/legal dichotomy through doctrinal study and case law. The considerations of previous scholars, as well as state practice and the opinions of various international courts are all included. The author finds that although scholarly opinion and state practice incline toward a more realist position that recognizes the imperatives of state sovereignty, the International Court of Justice has never turned away a case due to the political sensitivities of the subject matter or of the disputants. The Court has quietly set a jurisprudence for the international community that is more idealistic than realistic.