Challenges of International Law in the Asian Region

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

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2. Discourses and Sources

   • Vitit Muntarbhorn

   Pages 1-26

3. Sovereignty and Responsibility

   • Vitit Muntarbhorn

   Pages 27-46

4. Historical Ambiguity and Territoriality

   • Vitit Muntarbhorn

   Pages 47-60

5. Normativity and Maritime Competitivity

   • Vitit Muntarbhorn

   Pages 61-79

6. Plights and Human Rights

   • Vitit Muntarbhorn

   Pages 81-108

7. Trade Liberalization and Inhibition

   • Vitit Muntarbhorn

   Pages 109-138

8. Regionalism and Eclecticism

   • Vitit Muntarbhorn

   Pages 139-162

9. Back Matter

   Pages 163-224

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This book provides an innovative outlook of the various challenges of international law in the Asian region. Moving away from the Eurocentrism prevalent in the literature on the subject, it provides a comprehensive Asian perspective without adopting a monolithic or homogeneous Asian approach. Although Asian countries converge on certain issues related to international law, such as engagement with the United Nations, at times, there is a significant divergence, such as in the case of agricultural trade liberalisation. Given the vastness of the region and the differing political systems, there are many discrepancies to consider.  The book takes into account the viewpoint of civil society so as to avoid a vertical state‐centred approach. Offering an easy-to-understand presentation of key issues concerning the region, this book is a useful introduction to this complex topic for students, academics and practitioners of international law.

• International Law in Asia
• Human Rights in Asia
• Democracy in Asia
• Security in Asia
• Public Policy and Law in Asia

• Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

  Vitit Muntarbhorn

Vitit Muntarbhorn is a Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of  Law, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.  He has helped the UN in various positions, including as UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale of  Children; UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation  in the Democratic People's Republic of  Korea (North Korea); and UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  He  chaired for the UN the 2011 Commission of   Inquiry on the Ivory Coast and was later one of  the Commissioners of  the UN appointed Commission of  Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.  He is the recipient of  the 2004 UNESCO Human Rights Education Prize and  was bestowed a Knighthood (KBE) in 2018.  He teaches and has published widely on Human Rights, International Law, Refugee Law, and international Humanitarian Law.

Policies and ethics