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Terrorism and the International Legal Order - with special reference to the UN, the EU and Cross-border Aspects, 1stEdition, Edited by Peter J. van Krieken. Hard Bound, 6.0" x 9.5".
T. M. C. Asser Press, P.O. Box 16163, 2500 BD The Hague, The Netherlands; Publication Date September 2002 , 482 pp., ISBN 90-6704-148-3. Price EUR 95.00 / USD 91.00 / GBP 60.00.
Official Site of the book: Click here to visit
Table of contents: Click here to read [48 kb pdf file].
Preface: Click here to read [39 kb pdf file].
Description of book: Click here to read [39 kb pdf file].
Excerpts: Click here to read.
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The people of today's generation have this tendency to think that terrorism is a phenomenon that began only in the 20th century, and that prior to it, our ancestors enjoyed halcyon days of pure utopia. Nothing can be further from the truth. Ever since man began to evolve thousands of years ago, there have been conflicts and conspiracies. Only, the scale and sophistication of combat have changed, and terrorism the inevitable offshoot of civil strife, became more and more widespread. The horrific terrorist strikes against the United States of America, arguably the most powerful country in the world, in September 2001 brought the issue into urgent global focus, and the need of the hour today is how to respond to such barbaric acts of international terrorism. It is of utmost importance to analyse the consequences of these acts to determine which direction international law should take, so that violence against innocent people can be prevented, and peace and justice can be promoted. While it is true that international law has made tremendous progress over the past few decades, especially in the field of human rights, humanitarian law, and criminal law, the main issue to be addressed today is how the various chapters (of which it is comprised), can be made to converge into one coherent and effective strategy in combating and preventing terrorism. It is in this context that the book under review has been written by Peter van Krieken, an eminent expert in the field of international law.
Professor Krieken teaches international law, human rights, and humanitarian law at the prestigious Webster University in St.Louis, and also serves as a special advisor in international affairs with the Netherlands Ministry of Justice. The blurb on the back cover of the book mentions that he has had extensive experience with the United Nations, particularly in war zones and crisis areas in the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the hotbeds of international terrorism. Dr. Krieken has in fact published several other titles relating to hijacking and asylum, and this book is actually a follow-up, in a manner of speaking, to his 1999 publication "Refugee Law in Context: The Exclusion Clause," in which he had discussed the issue of asylum seekers guilty of criminal acts in their homeland.
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 . . .The book under review introduces the novice reader to the various aspects surrounding the efforts which have been undertaken to enhance cooperation and coordination in the war against terrorism. The fascinating exposition covers a wide range of topics in an almost encyclopaedic fashion, such as jurisdiction and extradition, cross border issues, international treaties, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, and the United Nations and its declarations on terrorism. . .
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The book under review introduces the novice reader to the various aspects surrounding the efforts which have been undertaken to enhance cooperation and coordination in the war against terrorism. The fascinating exposition covers a wide range of topics in an almost encyclopaedic fashion, such as jurisdiction and extradition, cross border issues, international treaties, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, and the United Nations and its declarations on terrorism. It brings together several key documents on terrorism in the context of the international order, all preceded by lucid introductions. There is a great deal of emphasis laid on the United Nations and the European Union, and their efforts to harmonize legislation. While the issue of human rights is not neglected, Krieken is mainly concerned with the problem of asylum seekers and migrants who are involved in terrorist activities. This is perfectly justified, since over the years, thousands of innocent people have become victims of terrorist acts: the 'Lockerbie' passengers, the wheel chair passenger on the Achillo Lauro who was thrown overboard, the Berlin, Buenos Aires or Jerusalem disco dancers, the many diplomats who have lost their lives in the course of their duties, and the vast number of innocent people who became victims to indiscriminate killings and bombings.
Though this book focuses mainly on Conventions, Treaties, and Declarations, it also deals with the legal response, albeit in a more general fashion, all the while acknowledging that any response or framework should never be considered a goal, but an utmost tool. It is Dr. Krieken's view that given all the limitations, the legal response must still be effective, pragmatic and solution-oriented, aiming at creating a working international legal order. To this end, the book succeeds significantly. All arguments and discussions are presented in a detailed manner that is easily comprehensible not only to practitioners and academics of international law, but even to beginners and greenhorns.
The publishers of the volume, TMC Asser Press of The Hague, The Netherlands, must be commended for their genuine efforts in providing relevant information, analysis and guidance in this very topical field. It is apt that the book is dedicated to Bert V.A. Roling, who was a trailblazer in humanitarian law and international criminal law.
In conclusion, it must be said that Dr. Krieken deserves all praise for putting together a volume comprising a wealth of information that will serve as an up to date reference source for anyone interested in this area.
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-V.V.Pillay MD, DCL
Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Chief, Dept of Analytical Toxicology (Incl. Poison Information Service), Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Cochin 682026, South India Phones: 0484-2804852 (O); 0484-2807055 (R), 9895282388 (Cell) Email: toxicology@medical.amrita.edu Dr.V.V.Pillay has been in the vanguard of the movement among medical professionals in India to develop the neglected field of Toxicology. He has published extensively in both the scientific and lay press on matters relating to Toxicology, as well as his chosen discipline - Forensic Medicine. Dr.Pillay has authored 6 books on Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, and has received an award for one of them (Modern Medical Toxicology), generally considered to be a trend setter among books on the subject in India. He has reviewed several books on Toxicology for the Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. Dr.Pillay received a scroll of honour in appreciation of work done in the field of Toxicology from the Medicolegal Society, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He has established a state-of-the-art Poison Control Centre, recognized by the World Health Organization at the institute where he is currently employed (AIMS, Cochin). Among his most sought-after publications is a 700 page reference work on Toxicology. |
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