In the classical and neo-classical periods of international law, the law of the sea was chiefly concerned with the need to facilitate the movement of ships. In the post-World War II period, however, coastal states began to make juridictional claims to extensive areas of the ocean, requiring decisions on how ocean boundaries are to be established and maintained.

In this book Douglas Johnston provides a synthesis of all disciplines relevant to any aspect of boundary-making. He outlines the general theory of boundary-making, reviews the modern history of all modes of boundary-making in the ocean, and provides a theoretical framework for the analysis and evaluation of ocean boundary claims, practices, arrangements, and settlements. The author suggests that as bilateral treaty-making continues, significant boundary delimitation patterns will emerge, some of which may prove useful in non-oceanic contexts of boundary-making and natural resource management such as Antarctica, airspace and outerspace, and international lakes and rivers.