International law

Antarctic diplomacy and the critical role of inspection mechanisms
Antarctic diplomacy and the critical role of inspection mechanisms
Traditionally, the international legal framework governing the Antarctic region – the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) – has been insulated from the impact of geopolitical conflict…
In defence of Aung San Suu Kyi
In defence of Aung San Suu Kyi
On 18 October 2023, the Brighton and Hove City Council in the United Kingdom revoked the Freedom of the City awarded to Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011. Their special…
Russia’s shadow tanker fleet runs into trouble
Russia’s shadow tanker fleet runs into trouble
Barring new evasive techniques by Kremlin technocrats, the rapid rise in Russia’s shadow tanker fleet since the Ukraine war may be reversing as pressure is brought to bear on…
By default not design: the end of the asylum consensus
By default not design: the end of the asylum consensus
During a summer break, The Interpreter will feature selected articles each day from throughout the past year. Normal publishing will resume 15 January, 2024. This article first…
A jurisdiction over the high seas
A jurisdiction over the high seas
During a summer break, The Interpreter will feature selected articles each day from throughout the past year. Normal publishing will resume 15 January, 2024. This article first…
Does the world have any energy left to cope with another war?
Does the world have any energy left to cope with another war?
It is not often that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gets involved in a national referendum, but that is exactly what recently occurred when South American country Guyana…
The Fix: A death in Malta
The Fix: A death in Malta
We’re asking contributors to put together their own collected observations like this one – and as always, if you’ve got an idea to pitch for The Interpreter, drop a line via the…
Learning to live in a world without progress
Learning to live in a world without progress
It’s hard not to like Steven Pinker. I’ve never met the celebrated cognitive psychologist and public intellectual, but he’s managed to cheer me up on occasion. Even though that’s…
How to stop any repeat of the Australia-China sonar incident
How to stop any repeat of the Australia-China sonar incident
Soviet warships regularly sparred with Western navies during the Cold War years, conducting close-in ship-to-ship manoeuvres and pointing lasers against their foreign opponents at…
The surprising link between piracy and Covid-19
The surprising link between piracy and Covid-19
The Singapore Strait is experiencing a spike in maritime piracy attacks, with the incidence increasing from 12 attacks in 2019 to 38 in 2022, and an upwards trend continuing into…