Question: What are some basic reference sources for international organizations?

A continuously increasing body of international law emanates from international and regional organizations, particularly intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations and INTERPOL.

Print Resources

Basic Reference Sources of International Organizations

• The Law of International Institutions (SMITH KZ4850 .S26 2009x)
• International Institutional Law: Unity Within Diversity (5th ed) (Smith KZ4850 .S337 2011)
• Yearbook of International Organizations (Smith  JZ 4836 .Y43x and Online) 
• Public International Law in a Nutshell, by Thomas Buergenthal (5th ed. 2013) (Closed Reserve KZ3410 .B84 2013x and West Study Aids).
• Principles of International Law, by Sean D. Murphy (2nd ed. 2012) Concise Hornbook. (Closed Reserve KZ3410 .M873 2012 and West Study Aids).
• The Oxford Handbook of International Organizations, by Jacob Katz Cogan, et al., eds. (1st ed. 2016) (Smith KZ4850 .O94 2016).
• Routledge Handbook of International Organizations (2013, electronic resource), ed. Bob Reinalda

Electronic Resources

Guides to Research: Use existing guides to researching international organizations

• ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law
• Electronic Information System for International Law (EISIL)
• ​CALI (the Center for Computer Assisted Legal Instruction)
  • Has several lessons related to international (or “intergovernmental”) organizations.
  • Search for “international organizations” to find the lessons titled “Intergovernmental Organizations & Non-Governmental Organizations,” “Regional International Organizations,” and “United Nations Research.”
• ​The Peace Palace Library, the library of international law located in The Hague
  • Visit the library page, navigate to the dropdown menu under “Research guides,” and select “International Organizations.”

Links to Primary Law and Official Documents

• GlobaLex: Electronic legal publication dedicated to international and foreign law research. Includes extensive research guides on international organizations under "international law research."
• Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law: Online encyclopedia with thousands of articles that are written by experts, peer-reviewed, and edited by the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law.
• Browse the Law Library's E-resources by Subject for a listing of related links to official documents, news, and other sources
  • United Nations e-resources
  • European Union e-resources