Monday, April 21, 2008

Denza: Diplomatic Law (Third Edition)

Eileen Denza (University College London - Law) has published the third edition of Diplomatic Law: Commentary on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (Oxford Univ. Press 2008). Here's the abstract:
Diplomatic Law was first published in 1976. Written with the benefit of the author's deep and practical understanding of the subject as a Legal Counsellor in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, it has become widely regarded as the leading work in the field. Denza places each provision of the Convention in its historical context; provides commentary on the application of the Convention by the UK, the US, and other States; and thoroughly examines topical problems in the field including the abuse of diplomatic immunity and terrorist violence. This fully updated new edition also highlights important new trends in the application of the Convention regime. It explores the interaction between State and diplomatic immunity (as shown in the Pinochet case), examines methods of establishing and conducting diplomatic relations under conditions of physical danger, and looks at increased evidence of disregard for the rules of secrecy in diplomatic communications. Denza also explores and the greater latitude for diplomats to 'interfere' in the internal affairs of the receiving State in the interest of protecting human rights and evaluates the impact of adoption of the UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property.