Commitment and Compliance is the first book to evaluate the impact of state behaviour of international norms adopted in forms that are not legally binding. The use of such `soft law' has increased dramatically with the proliferation of international organizations. Whether and how such norms can be used effectively to supplement or substitute for legally binding obligations forms the heart of this discussion.

In the study, a project of the American Society of International Law, the authors look at four subject areas in international law: human rights, environment, arms control, and trade and finance, assessing the use of non-binding norms in each field and whether such norms engender state compliance with them. The discussion also generally addresses the nature of international law and the role on non-binding norms in the international legal system.