This book investigates the legal legitimacy and practical application of universal jurisdiction in national criminal law systems. Luc Reydams, a scholar of international law, constructs a comprehensive framework to address the question of whether a sovereign state possesses the authority to prosecute foreign nationals for crimes committed outside its borders against other foreign nationals. The work synthesizes theoretical legal principles with an empirical analysis of state practice to determine the boundaries of extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction.

Legal scholars and practitioners frequently cite this monograph as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of extraterritorial criminal prosecution. Experts highlight the rigorous comparative methodology employed by the author to navigate the intersection of municipal law and international legal norms.