War, Commerce, and International Law

by James Thuo Gathii

War, Commerce, and International Law examines how the laws relating to war time plunder, looting and destruction have, if at all, changed over time. In so doing, it examines historical and contemporary conflicts – including Blackwater, ('Z') in Iraq and “blood diamonds” in Africa’s Congo – arguing that the applicable rules and norms are applied unevenly and often unfairly across the globe.

This timely book shows how recent conflicts have once again brought to the fore the role of law in protecting private property and commercial contracts during and after armed conflict.  The book asks whether residents of war-torn countries are given the same international legal protection that foreign investors enjoy. Is law in this context simply war by other means? Gathii critically evaluates the rights of invading and occupying powers as well as the implications this raises for international humanitarian law.

Read a Review of War, Commerce, and International Law by the Harvard Law Review