This volume investigates the evolving state of international law through the analysis of judicial decisions, legislative materials, and scholarly commentary during the 1988 calendar year. The editors, Ian Brownlie and D.W. Bowett, both distinguished academics in the field, curate a collection of expert contributions that examine the practical application of legal principles. The text serves as a formal record, synthesizing complex legal developments into a structured framework for practitioners and researchers.

Experts and legal scholars recognize this series as a foundational resource for tracking the historical progression of international law. Readers frequently note the high academic density and the precise, technical nature of the prose contained within these annual volumes.