Assessing the Effectiveness of International Courts (International Courts and Tribunals Series) - Hardcover

In Assessing the Effectiveness of International Courts, Shany proposes an analytical framework for assessing the effectiveness of international courts. A critical insight that Shany's book offers is that traditional definitions of effectiveness in the literature of internationallaw contain an "Achilles heel". Indeed, Shany exposes the weaknesses of traditional monolithiceffectiveness analyses by encouraging us to zoom in on the context and nuances that those traditional indicators hide. (Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, The American Journal of International Law)

It will be apparent that Professor Shany's book is an extremely far-reaching and exhaustive study; and it is not possible, within the bounds of a brief review, to give more than some indication of the extensive research and carefully weighed conclusions that it contains ... For lawyers, ... particularly those concerned with the work of international courts, the great merit of the book is that it guides the reader to look beyond a courts judgments and opinions, and form a realistic picture of the actual impact beyond the courtroom that these may make in Professor Shanys apt terminology (p. 53), to look beyond the output of the court, and discern and assess the outcome. (Hugh Thirlway, Formerly Principal Legal Secretary, International Court of Justice; Formerly Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva)

During the last 20 years the world has experienced a sharp rise in the number of international courts and tribunals, and a correlative expansion of their jurisdictions. This book draws on social sciences to provide a clear, goal-orientated assessment of their effectiveness, and a critical evaluation of the quality of their performance.