International law has long been dominated by the State. But it has
become apparent that this bias is unrealistic and untenable in the
contemporary world as the rise of the notion of common goods challenges
this dominance. These common goods - typically values (like human
rights, rule of law, etc) or common domains (the environment, cultural
heritage, space, etc) - speak to an emergent international community
beyond the society of States and the attendant rights and obligations of
non-State actors. This book details how three key areas of
international law - human rights, culture and the environment - are
pushing the boundaries in this field. Each category is of current and
ongoing significance in legal and public discourse, as illustrated by
the Syrian conflict (human rights and international humanitarian law),
the destruction of mausoleums and manuscripts in Mali (cultural
heritage), and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (the environment). Each
exemplifies the need to move beyond a State-focused idea of
international law. This timely volume explores how the idea of common
goods, in which rights and obligations extend to individuals, groups and
the international community, offers one such avenue and reflects on its
transformative impact on international law. 
