DOI
10.26481/mup.2609 – https://doi.org/10.26481/mup.2609
Open Access Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0)
Copyright
© 2026 Maastricht University and the authors
Published online on
02-07-2026
Publisher
Maastricht University Press
Open Access
This open access textbook, published by Maastricht University, is free to read, download, and reuse. In addition, you can access the source of the book on GitHub and order a print version of the textbook.
Book Description
This textbook goes beyond a straightforward account of the International Court of Justice. At its heart lies a deeper question: does the work of the ICJ retain meaningful relevance for the world community, and if so, does it do so despite the emerging dynamics of a multipolar world order, or perhaps precisely because of them?
To answer that question, the book takes a deliberately judicial approach. The bulk of its pages are devoted to the close examination of some of the most significant cases in the Court’s entire history, including those of its predecessor, the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ). In doing so, it uncovers what are often the best-kept secrets of this venerable institution: its actual judgments, and what they reveal about the evolution of international law across the decades.
Three chapters structure the work around the Court’s past, present, and future. The opening chapter traces the history of the ICJ from its institutional roots, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the PCIJ, through the exceptional and often turbulent arc of the twentieth century. Written in accessible language, it introduces readers to the Court’s main functions, its composition, and its structure, offering a nuanced portrait of an institution that came of age during one of history’s most consequential periods.
The cases examined in the two subsequent chapters were selected through a rigorous process involving a broad pool of experienced international lawyers. In total, fourteen cases and one Advisory Opinion are analysed, proceedings that have already shaped the international legal order and are likely to continue doing so in matters of considerable consequence.
Key Features
- Introduces the International Court of Justice (ICJ), its history, structure and modus operandi to a wider educated public.
- Explains recent history of global order through an analysis of the ICJ’s working.
- Offers short and pointed analysis of past and pending cases of the ICJ.
- Highlights the importance of a system of international adjudication for world peace.
- Reflects on the challenges for international justice.
- Offers an accessible and quality introduction to a field where materials for a wider audience are still scarce.
Target audiences and educational use
This open textbook is designed primarily for the public at large, for civil servants working in ministries or similar institutions in the state administration, and for university students in any faculty with an interest in understanding how the system of international adjudication operates within the global order.
Law students at both the bachelor’s and master’s level will benefit from this reading, especially those interested in pursuing a career in international law, global law, or diplomacy. It is intended to help an educated public approach the workings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a highly specialised area of law.
The booklet supports learning by making knowledge more accessible. It adopts a straightforward narrative approach, together with brief analyses of international cases in which the ICJ has been seized. The booklet provides an accessible entrance to materials that are often difficult for the public, both for readers who would be satisfied with the booklet and for those who would wish to go more in depth on the topic.
This publication is also a clear example of open educational practice at Maastricht University. It brings together students and staff in a collaborative process of teaching, learning, and knowledge creation that extends beyond the classroom. In line with Maastricht University’s commitment to open education and the development, sharing, and reuse of learning materials, the project demonstrates how openness can strengthen educational quality, student engagement, and the accessibility of academic work.
Publication details and metadata
| Title | Thirst for Justice: The International Court of Justice |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | Symbolic Power or Global Law? |
| Editor | Mónica García-Salmones Rovira |
| ORCID | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8146-2965 |
| Authors | Aliya Sara Akdogan, Erin Behlic, Påhl Berglund, Willem den Boer Bongaerts, Marie-Julie Cantraine, Amy-lou de Longueville, Hiella Gawhari, Dániel Gargya, Mónica García-Salmones Rovira, Nina Guichou, Deniz Guner, Flora Hapkemeyer, Alisha Nadine Harahap, Maya Herrlett, Emilia Jokinen, Maruška Kozáková, Sherife Su Mehmetaliogullari, Sofia Naryzhnyaya, Marie Perniaux, Mihnea Pînzaru, Luisa Reichwein, Nela Rozdalovska, Elide Saia, Brina Samardzija, Julie Subke, Sara Zoppi |
| Affiliation | Maastricht University |
| ROR | 02jz4aj89 |
| Cover | – |
| Pages | 99 |
| Version | 1.0.0 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.26481/mup.2609 |
| Landing page | https://umlib.nl/mup.2609 |
| Online version | https://flipbooks.maastrichtuniversitypress.nl/thirst-for-justice |
| GitHub Source | https://umlib.nl/mup.2609.git |
| PDF download | https://umlib.nl/mup.2609.pdf |
| License | CC BY – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Maastricht University and the authors |
| Publisher | Maastricht University Press |
| Publication place | Maastricht |
| Published online | 02-07-2026 |
| ISBN Hardcover | – |
| ISBN Softcover | 9789403905891 |
| Language | English |
| Subject (BISAC code) |
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| Keywords |
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| Funding |
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How to cite
Please use the following citation, depending on your citation style:
APA
García-Salmones Rovira, M. (Ed.). (2026). Thirst for Justice: The International Court of Justice. Maastricht University Press. https://doi.org/10.26481/mup.2609
For a conversion to MLA Style, Chicago Style, IEEE Style, Harvard Referencing, and Vancouver Style, use your reference manager or Citation Converter and paste the DOI: 10.26481/mup.2609
Contact
Contact the authors
You can contact the editor and authors directly or via Maastricht University Press.
Contact Maastricht University Press
For all inquiries and comments about the book publication, please contact us via mup@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Press and Media
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Author photos and additional information are available on request.
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