Conclusions

Abstract

Abstract The book concludes with an overview of the theory, the main arguments, and empirical results, stressing the applicability and timeliness of this inquiry. This chapter discusses how this research fits within the wider context of international law and international relations literature and considers the deep implications for policymakers and practitioners of international law. This concluding chapter highlights the complicated and multistage character of the settlement process in territorial and maritime disputes and how the inherently legal nature of disputes over sovereignty, coupled with the intricate framework of peaceful resolution methods, results in a fertile environment for strategic behavior. Overall, this book demonstrates that the deep-rooted, complex diversity of the international peaceful settlement regime should give rise to many empirically grounded studies about how strategic, political, and legal considerations shape states’ preferences. The conclusion highlights the fundamental reality that international dispute settlement constitutes a human-led enterprise whereby strategies and actions are carried out by international law practitioners, legal counsel, and decision makers.