Does Fairness Matter in International Law?

This erudite book presents a critical re-examination of the principle of fairness in contemporary international law. Drawing on case studies from the Nile Basin and applying established theories of justice and fairness, Zeray Yihdego explores how the pursuit of fairness challenges, shapes, and enriches contemporary international law—especially the law of international watercourses.Bringing together the law of shared international watercourses with colonial-era and contemporary Nile Basin legal frameworks as case studies, the book stresses the need for a just and peaceful cooperation among concerned states, peoples and policymakers. Chapters highlight the challenges and opportunities of applying fairness in practice, drawing on major real-world freshwater cases including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement and the Cooperative Framework Agreement. Yihdego posits achievable solutions for an equitable legal framework in the Nile Basin to advance cooperation, stability and shared prosperity. He ultimately makes a compelling case for global and regional institutions and jurists to renew their engagement with fairness as a principle of public international law.This authoritative book is essential reading for scholars and students of public international law, law and development, environmental law and international watercourses law, particularly those who specialise in the Nile Basin. It is also of practical relevance to policymakers, civil society organisations, think tanks and research institutes in these fields.