Three years ago the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia and the Faculty of Law of the University of Leicester embarked on a joint research and academic co-operation programme with the support of the British Council in Warsaw. The programme resulted in the organisation of two academic conferences, one in Leicester and one in Katowice. This book is the tangible result of these conferences. The content of the book reflects the wide-ranging nature of the collaboration between the two Faculties. Environmental law, public international law, intellectual and cultural property law are the main areas that are covered, but certain issues of constitutional law, European law, social law, company law and legal education are also addressed. The main strength of this book is found in its breadth of coverage and the detailed examination of key issues such as the rights of minorities; the transboundary movement of waste in Europe and the environmental problems which it creates; the theft and illegal exportation of cultural property; and the convergence of the droit d'auteur and copyright traditions.