This book collects together the most important papers of Antonio Cassese, the first President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry into the crimes committed in Darfur.

Written over a period of 25 years, from 1974 to 2001, the papers chart the development of Cassese's thought on the central issues that have shaped his life's work: the laws relating to armed conflict, respect of individual rights and the prosecution of individuals for international crimes. Emerging from the papers is Cassese's vision of the individual and human dignity as the lynchpin of the international legal system, and the need to balance the fact of statehood as an essential feature of modern international society with the protection of individual rights.

In a new paper, written especially for the collection, Cassese looks back over the development of his understanding of international law and presents his current view of the issues discussed throughout the volume. The volume also features an exhaustive bibliography of Cassese's publications, and biographical notes from Cassese's colleagues.

By gathering together the most important writings of one of the preeminent figures in contemporary international criminal justice, this collection provides not only the definitive statement of Cassese's thought, but a unique insight into some of the key developments in international law over the last quarter of the twentieth century.