The Role of the International Court of Justice as the Principal Judicial Organ of the United Nations is a thought-provoking and valuable addition to the existing literature on the ICJ. The book’s originality lies in that it provides both the student and practitioner of international law and relations with a comprehensive evaluation of important but hitherto neglected aspects of the work of the World Court: its contribution to the functioning of the UN system; its role in interpreting and developing the institutional law of the UN and in clarifying its purposes and principles, particularly in the settlement of international disputes; the Court’s advisory and contentious competencies and their interrelationship as well as the extent of its supervisory powers over decisions emanating from other UN organs such as the Security Council. The book concludes with practical suggestions on how to develop the Court’s role into a better organisation of justice to enable it to face new challenges for the future.