Francis Grimal lectures in International Law at the University of Buckingham. He is a member of the Committee of the International Law Association's British Branch on Nuclear Weapons, Non-Proliferation & Contemporary International Law. His research interests include the use of force, nuclear non-proliferation, self-defence, collective security, humanitarian intervention and international humanitarian law and he has published in North American and European International Law Journals.

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach and drawing on the works of strategic literature and international relations theory, this book examines the theoretical nature behind a threat of force in order to inform and explain why and how the normative structure operates in the way it does. The core of the book addresses whether Article 2(4) is adequately suited to the current international climate and, if not, whether an alternative means of rethinking Article 2(4) would provide a better solution.

Introduction 1. Historical Analysis 2. International Instruments Post-Charter 3. Judicial Interpretation 4. UN Practice 5. Threat Theory 6. Iran and North Korea 7. An Alternative Means of Prohibiting Threats of Force within Article 2(4) 8. Conclusion