This book investigates how international courts and tribunals determine the degree of deference granted to states through the application of the standard of review and the margin of appreciation. The authors, Lukasz Gruszczynski and W. G. Werner, provide a rigorous examination of these two methodologies to determine how they function within international legal frameworks. By analyzing various judicial bodies, the text explores where these doctrines overlap and where they diverge in practice. The work establishes a comparative framework to understand how international adjudicators balance state sovereignty against international obligations.

Legal scholars and practitioners view this text as a specialized resource for understanding the nuances of international judicial review. Experts highlight the clarity with which the authors distinguish between the two primary doctrines of deference.