Diplomacy's Keystone: International Law for Diplomats

Mario Oyarzábal, Member of the International Law Commission and the Legal Advisor to the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discusses the new book International Law for Diplomats, a concise, practitioner-focused guide written to help diplomats—lawyers and non-lawyers alike—handle real-world issues like treaty negotiation, state immunities, use of force, human rights, and dispute settlement.

The episode explains the book’s structure around systemic issues, current issues, and practical craft, its accessible style, and the UN Legal Counsel’s foreword. Its central message is that international law is not a specialist domain but diplomacy’s keystone, essential for advancing state interests and reinforcing the rule of law.

Mario Oyarzábal reminds us, "that international law is a toolbox for cooperation for resolving disputes peacefully, for accountability."

Resources: Ask a Librarian! Ask an Archivist! International Law for Diplomats

Available via Global Search

Where to listen to this episode 

• Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/

 Content   

Guest: Ambassador Mario Oyarzábal

Host: Amy Smith

Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva