This work is a general introduction to international law, considered in a political and historical perspective. Throughout, an effort is made to identify the ideological and political motivations underlying international legal rules and institutions, and to analyze them in the context of Western, socialist and developing countries. The text also covers certain topics often neglected in traditional works, such as the historical evolution of the international community and the law of economic relations and development. The book should appeal to legal students, lawyers interested in the background and context of this subject, and political scientists who want to know more about international law-making.