This is the first book length study exploring the status of islands and the resulting legal issues arising in the field of public international law.

Islands and their status in international law have become one of the more contentious issues in public international law. However, despite this, there is no contemporary book-length study on the question. This book fills that gap. Written by one of the world’s leading public international lawyers, it offers an authoritative overview of how public international law operates in relation to islands. Key issues such as artificial islands, archipelagos, sovereignty, territorial rights, maritime entitlements, and governance are explored in depth. This will become a classic text in the field of international law.

"It has to be said that the production of this book was a commendable achievement, giving a broad and contemporary insight into insular issues in international law, and that overall the book is well researched and produced." - Ocean Yearbook