Commitment and Compliance is the first book to evaluate the impact of state behavior of international norms adopted in forms that are not legally binding. The use of such soft law' has increased dramatically with the proliferation of international organizations. Whether and how such norms can be used effectively to supplement or substitute for legally binding obligations forms the heart of this discussion.

• Introduction: Law, Non-Law and the Problem of 'Soft Law'


• PART I. THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM


• 1: Christine Chinkin: Normative Development in the International Legal System


• 2: Compliance Theories


• Choosing to Comply: Theorizing from International Relations and Comparative Politics


• Beyond Compliance: Helping Nations Cooperate


• 3: Challenges to the International Legal System


• Interdependence, Globalization, and Sovereignty: The Role of Non-binding International Legal Accords


• The Role of Soft Law in a Global Order


• 4: Jonathan L. Charney: Commentary: Compliance with International Soft Law


• PART II. PERSPECTIVES ON COMPLIANCE WITH NON-BINDING NORMS


• 5: The Environment and Natural Resources


• The General Assembly Ban on Driftnet Fishing


• Pesticides and Chemicals: The Requirement of Prior Informed Consent


• The Legal Status and Effect of Antarctic Recommended Measures


• Selected Agreements Concluded Pursuant to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals


• Commentary and Conclusions


• 6: Trade and Finance


• International Efforts against Money Laundering


• 'Soft Law' in a 'Hybrid' Organization: The International Organization for Standardization


• Policy Guidance and Compliance: The World Bank Operational Standards


• Environmental Norms in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum


• Commentary: Compliance with Non-binding Norms of Trade and Finance


• 7: Human Rights


• A Hard Look at Compliance with 'Soft' Law: The Case of the OSCE


• International Labor Organization: Recommendations and Similar Instruments


• Inter-American Human Rights Law, Soft and Hard


• Human Rights Codes for Transnational Corporations: The Sullivan and McBride Principles


• Commentary and Conclusions


• 8: Multilateral Arms Control


• The System of Non-proliferation Export Controls


• Protection of Nuclear Materials


• International Regulation of Land Mines


• Commentary


• 9: Edith Brown Weiss: Conclusions: Understanding Compliance with Soft Law


• Editor's Concluding Note: The Role of Non-binding Norms in the International Legal System

Dinah Shelton is Professor of International Law at the University of Notre Dame Law School, USA.