Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Written from a public international lawyer's perspective, this short but significant book gives a broad overview of international investment law (IIL), explaining core concepts of investment protection, their evolution, and how investment tribunals have interpreted them. It examines the main features of the prevailing investment dispute settlement system and takes into account historic antecedents and possible future developments. August Reinisch facilitates easy access to the field by putting international investment law into its broader historical, political and legal context. Key features include: * a combination of academic and practical perspectives * a broad-based contextual introduction * a nuanced, integrated overview of the links and connections between different areas of international investment law. This Advanced Introduction is an indispensable guide for students of law, political science, international relations and economics. Comprehensive and accessible, it is essential reading for lawyers, scholars and policy advisors seeking to further their understanding of international investment law.