International Law for Common Goods ― Normative Perspectives on Human Rights, Culture and Nature

International law has long been dominated by the state. But, it has become apparent that this bias is unrealistic and untenable in the contemporary world where the rise of the notion of common goods challenges this dominance. These common goods - typically values (like human rights, rule of law, etc.) or common domains (the environment, cultural heritage, space, etc.) - speak to an emergent international community beyond the society of states and the attendant rights and obligations of non-state actors. This book details how three key areas of international law - human rights, culture, and the environment - are pushing the boundaries in this field. Each category is of current and ongoing significance in legal and public discourse, as illustrated by the Syrian conflict (human rights and international humanitarian law), the destruction of mausoleums and manuscripts in Mali (cultural heritage), and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (the environment). Each exemplifies the need to move beyond a state-focused idea of international law. The timely volume explores how the idea of common goods - in which rights and obligations extend to individuals, groups, and the international community - offers one such avenue and reflects on its transformative impact on international law. (Series: Studies in International Law)

Federico Lenzerini is Professor of International and EU Law at the Universita degli Studi di Siena. Ana Filipa Vrdoljak is Professor of Law and Associate Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Law, the University of Technology, Sydney.