Although the book is slim – weighing in at only 156 pages – it provides a well written and, for the most part, comprehensive engagement with relevant academic texts, ICJ decisions, and state practice. Reappraising the Resort to Force is an engaging, well written, and succinct evaluation of the jus ad bellum on the morning of September 11, 2001, as ... Read moredeployed in the debates over the military action in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003), and in the years since these operations. It represents a valuable contribution to the research on the impact of the "war on terror" on the rules and norms of international law.
Andrew Sanger
Democracy and Security vol 8 2012
The book employs a variety of sophisticated, well-organized sources including: jurisprudence; United Nations resolutions and declarations; government legislation, memos, and declarations; as well as opinions and commentary from various scholars in the field of international law. The work is divided into clear and cogent sections, beginning with a historical overview of the use of force in twentieth century international law. ...the book is a welcome read for anyone wanting to learn or brush up on the basics of jus ad bellum in the modern era [and] provides a concise and contemporary explication of the use of force doctrine... Moir's incisive exegesis of the development of jus ad bellum has much to provide for both scholars and novices alike. The book delivers a useful historical analysis of the jus ad bellum doctrine, an overview of the debate regarding the current formulation of the use of force, and the author's call for caution before declaring jus ad bellum irrevocably altered by the "war on terror". Although his ultimate thesis is perhaps tenuous, the overall depth, clarity, and readability of the work recommend it for anyone interested in international law, the use of state force, or the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Jared Biden
Saskatchewan Law Review Volume 75, 2012
...there is no surer guide to this intricate topic than Lindday Moir's new book on the use of force in international law (jus ad bellum). It is a deceptively short work, running to only 160 pages of text. Yet within this space, Moir manages to address everything one would care to know about this contentious subject, each section weaving its way expertly through the multitude of sources clustered in the footnotes.
Robert Whitehouse
The Law Society Gazette Aug 2011
The author employs a writing style that makes the book an enjoyable read without sacrificing depth of analysis. The book is a significant contribution to the emerging debate as to the lasting impact of the USA's actions over the past decade and is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in this area.
Christian Henderson
Journal of Conflict and Security Law 2010
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