When it comes to citing international agreements in academic writing, it is essential to follow a recognized and standardized citation format. One such format is the Bluebook Citation, which is widely used in legal and academic circles in the United States. In this article, we will explore the basics of Bluebook citation for international agreements.

The Bluebook Citation style is a system of citation developed by the Harvard Law Review Association to standardize legal citation and academic writing. The style is widely used in legal writing, including case law, scholarly articles, and law reviews. It is designed to provide readers with precise information about the legal authorities cited in a text.

For international agreements, the Bluebook Citation style provides specific guidelines for citing treaties and agreements. A treaty is an agreement between two or more states, while an agreement is a binding arrangement among two or more parties. The citation format for treaties and agreements is similar, with a few key differences.

To cite a treaty or agreement in Bluebook style, begin with the name of the treaty or agreement in italics, followed by the abbreviation for the parties that have signed the treaty or agreement. For example, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) treaty would be cited as follows:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Apr. 4, 1949, 63 Stat. 2241, T.I.A.S. No. 1509, 34 U.N.T.S. 243.

In this example, “63 Stat. 2241” refers to the United States Statutes at Large, which is where the treaty was published in the U.S. The “T.I.A.S. No. 1509” is the Treaty Information and Publication System number assigned to the treaty by the U.S. Department of State, while “34 U.N.T.S. 243” refers to the United Nations Treaty Series, where the treaty was published in a multilateral context.

If the treaty or agreement has been amended, you must include the date of the amendment and where the amendment was published. For example, if the NATO treaty was amended on March 12, 1999, the citation would be as follows:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Apr. 4, 1949, 63 Stat. 2241, T.I.A.S. No. 1509, 34 U.N.T.S. 243, as amended Mar. 12, 1999, 1955 U.N.T.S. 19.

In this example, “1955 U.N.T.S. 19” refers to the United Nations Treaty Series where the amendment was published.

In conclusion, citing international agreements in academic writing is essential to provide readers with accurate and reliable information about the legal authorities cited. The Bluebook Citation style is one of the widely recognized and accepted citation formats for legal and academic writing, including citing treaties and agreements. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your citations are correct and consistent with the Bluebook citation style.