{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.021082042164084328, 'fraction_numerical': 0.014732029464058927, 'mean_word_length': 4.868852459016393, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 1, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
The World Bank in a Changing World. Vol.II. By Ibrahim F. I. Shihata. [Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff. 1995. xiv + 802 pp. ISBN 90-411-0115-2. £169]

The Introductory Manual compresses in fewer than 500 tightly printed pages a rather detailed treatment of the law of the sea in the light of the 1982 UN Convention, without forgetting, however, the other relevant international instruments. The author follows, broadly speaking, the order of the Convention, going from internal waters and baselines, to the territorial sea, to straits, to archipelagos, to the contiguous zone, to the continental shelf and the exclusive economic and fishery zones, to the high seas. The protection and preservation of the marine environment, marine scientific research and seabed mining come last, as special problems. The treatment of seabed mining at the end is the main divergence in the structure of the book from that of the 1982 Convention. Considering the peculiarity of the subject, this does not disturb the reader, even though it is likely that the important changes undergone by the provisions on deep seabed mining when the book was in an advanced stage of production influenced the positioning of this chapter, which includes a treatment of the 1994 agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the 1982 Convention. While for most maritime zones the treatment of their limits is in the same chapter as that of the regime applicable therein, this is not so as regards the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. Here extensive separate developments concern delimitation between neighbouring States and the regime applicable in the exclusive economic zone and on the shelf. The relevant provisions of the Convention are analysed in the light of travaux preparatoires, of other treaties and of international judicial and arbitral pronouncements. Consideration of diplomatic practice and of specific examples occurs only seldom. It appears odd—for instance—that the only mention of Rockall in the treatment of Article 121, para.3, of the Convention as regards "rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life" is in the title of an article quoted in a footnote concerning a position taken in 1930. Brown rightly points to the question, which concerns practically all aspects of the law of the sea. whether a given provision or a given concept set out in the 1982 Convention corresponds to a customary law rule in existence or in the process of emerging. By and large, the positions he takes are sensible, even though the discussion leading to them—especially because of the limited references to diplomatic practice—is often too quick to be completely satisfactory. The provisions of the Convention on the settlement of disputes, although mentioned at various points, are never examined systematically. In the light of the entry into force of the Convention and, consequently, of the provisions making third-party dispute settlement compulsory on many questions, this seems an important aspect to be taken up in next editions. The second volume will render invaluable service to all teachers and practitioners of international law. In fewer than 400 pages it encompasses a very wide selection of documents (including Part XV of the 1982 Convention, on settlement of disputes, thus of course remedying in part the lack of treatment in the first volume). Here the reader will find not only treaty provisions and excerpts from judgments but also relevant aspects of diplomatic practice, which contribute to making the treatment of the first volume much more lively and complete. In the light of this observation, it appears that the two volumes must be used together and that one would be unfair in judging the first volume as a separate work. The second volume is not a mere appendix to a handbook. It is an integral part of the work, and not only an excellent collection of documents which any teacher can rely upon.