Synopses & Reviews
Drawing from a range of materials, Martti Koskenniemi demonstrates how international law becomes vulnerable to the contrasting criticisms of being either an irrelevant moralist Utopia or a manipulable façade for State interests. He examines the conflicts inherent in international law--sources, sovereignty, 'custom' and 'world order--and shows how legal discourse about such subjects can be described in terms of a small number of argumentative rules. Originally published in English in Finland in 1989, this reissue includes a newly written Epilogue by the author.
Review
"...I know no other reissues that have been awaited in international law in recent years with as much eagerness as this one."
-Akbar Rasulov, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, The Law and Politics Book ReviewReview
"From Apology to Utopia is...an obligatory gateway to the understanding of the theoretical foundations of International Law and has, for that reason, entered the 'classics' hall of fame."
-Dr. Jean d'Aspremont, Global Law BooksSynopsis
Presents a critical view of international law as a practice that aims to 'depoliticise' international relations. Drawing from a range of materials, the author demonstrates how international law becomes vulnerable to the contrasting criticisms of being either an irrelevant moralist Utopia or a manipulable façade for State interests. Originally published in English in Finland in 1989, Cambridge is proud to reissue this seminal text, with a new Epilogue in which the author both responds to critiques of the original work, and reflects on the significance of his 'deconstructive' approach today.
Synopsis
Presents a view of international law as a practice that aims to 'depoliticise' international relations.
About the Author
University of Helsinki.
Table of Contents
1. Objectivity in international law: conventional dilemmas; 2. Doctrinal history: the liberal doctrine of politics and its effect on international law; 3. The structure of modern doctrines; 4. Sovereignty; 5. Sources; 6. Custom; 7. Variations of world order: the structure of international legal argument; 8. Beyond objectivism; Epilogue; Bibliography and table of cases.