Includes bibliographical references ( p. 773-786) and index.

Immunity as a rule of international law -- The institution of proceedings and the nature of the plea of state immunity -- The concept of the state : theory and the justification for state immunity -- State immunity and jurisdiction : immunity from civil and criminal jurisdiction of national courts -- State immunity as a personal plea, distinguished from act of state and non-justiciability -- State immunity for acts in violation of international law -- The 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property : an introduction -- A review of the sources : treaties and projects for codification -- The restrictive doctrine of state immunity : its recognition in state practice -- English law : the UK State Immunity Act 1978 -- US Law : the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act 1976 -- The 2004 UN Convention on jurisdictional immunities of states and their property : general aspects -- The definition of the foreign state -- The consent of the foreign state, express and implied : waiver and the arbitration exception -- Exceptions to state immunity : the concept of commerciality -- The commercial and other exceptions to state immunity -- State immunity from execution -- Heads of state, diplomats, and the diplomatic mission, armed forces, and international organizations.