Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

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 Reflections on a Career in International Law: Conversation with Stephen M. Schwebel, Judge of the International Court of Justice; January 22, 1990, by Harry Kreisler

This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a Conversation on International Affairs. I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our distinguished guest today is Judge Stephen M. Schwebel of the International Court of Justice.

  1. Background ... early interest in founding of UN ... UN student organizations ... law school ... journeyman labor on Onassis - Ramco case ... UN Affairs for the Kennedy administration ... Adlai Stevenson and the Cuban Missile Crisis
  2. International Law ... defined ... ever-present but behind the scenes ... the problem of enforcement ... undeveloped sense of a world community ... customary law yielding to treaties and codification
  3. The International Court of Justice ... history ... high hopes for international arbitration ... League of Nations ... the World Wars ... current caseload: examples ... the Nicaraguan case against the U.S. ... preconditions for successful adjudication ... the effect of the Cold War
  4. Conclusions ... assessing the past 40 years ... some hope for the future ... the temperment of a judge ... instilling respect for international law ... building a sense of international community

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