Synopses & Reviews
The presence of Great Powers and outlaw states is a central but under-explored feature of international society. In this book, Gerry Simpson describes the ways in which an international legal order based on 'sovereign equality' has accommodated the Great Powers and regulated outlaw states since the beginning of the nineteenth-century. In doing so, the author offers a fresh understanding of sovereignty which he terms juridical sovereignty to show how international law has managed the interplay of three languages: the languages of Great Power prerogative, the language of outlawry (or anti-pluralism) and the language of sovereign equality. The co-existence and interaction of these three languages is traced through a number of moments of institutional transformation in the global order from the Congress of Vienna to the 'war on terrorism'.
Review
'In this important new volume, Gerry Simpson elegantly demonstrates the relationship between law and politics ... Simpson makes an important contribution to both fields ... this is an important work that takes our understanding of the politics and law of sovereignty to a new level. It neatly combines theoretical and historical analysis and provides a new set of concepts that are sure to become a key part of the lexicon of sovereignty in both international relations and international law.' Alex J. Bellamy, International Affairs
Review
'Simpson develops a credible and subtle explanation of the severe difficulties inherent in sovereign equality ...' Political Science Quarterly
Review
'Simpson's aim, to reclaim for legal discussion subjects often appropriated by the political sciences, is an important one. He presents his case with wit and flair, and much of the historical analysis would be of interest to the general reader as well as to international lawyers.' The Cambridge Law Journal
Review
'It is a brilliant work of theory of international law ... Simpson's book is an important one. It challenges some of our most basic notions about international law in the past and the present. The concepts of legalised hegemony and anti-pluralism, as well as Simpson's threefold understanding of sovereign equality are prime tools for any historical study on the international legal order in the past three to four centuries. By focusing on the elements of hierarchy and exclusiveness within the international order, Simpson fills in a blank spot on the map of international law and its history. ... can be recommended to all scholars with an interest in the history of modern international law.' Journal of the History of International Law
Review
'The book contains refreshing and sometimes provoking thoughts and it is of interest for students and scholars well beyond the circle of international law.' Journal of Peace Research
Synopsis
This is the first book to have examined the role of Great Powers and outlaw states in international society. From the Congress of Vienna to the 'war on terrorism', these unequal sovereigns have had a major impact on the way international relations are conducted. In this book, the author offers a way of understanding recent transformations in the global political order by recalling the lessons of the past, in particular the recent conflicts in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Synopsis
Historical and legal analysis of Kosovo and Afghanistan wars and impact on global political order.
Synopsis
From the Congress of Vienna to the "war on terrorism", the roles of "great powers and outlaw states" have had a major impact on international relations. Gerry Simpson describes the ways in which an international legal order based on "sovereign equality" has accommodated the great powers and regulated outlaw states since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Simpson also offers a way of understanding recent transformations in the global political order by recalling the lessons of the past--in particular, through the recent violent conflicts in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
About the Author
Gerry Simpson is a Senior Lecturer in the Law Department at the London School of Economics where he teaches Public International Law and International Criminal Law. He has been a Legal Adviser to the Australian Government on international criminal law and was part of the Australian delegation at the Rome Conference in 1998 to establish an international criminal court. He has also worked for several non-governmental organisations and appears regularly in the media discussing the law of war crimes and the law on the use of force in international law. Previous publications include The Law of War Crimes (1997) with Tim McCormack and The Nature of International Law (2001).
Table of Contents
Foreword Professor James Crawford; Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Introduction: 1. Great powers and outlaw states; Part II. Concepts: 2. Sovereign equalities; 3. Legalised hierarchies; Part III. Histories: Great Powers: 4. Legalised hegemony: Vienna to The Hague 1815-1906; 5. 'Extreme equality': rupture at The Hague 1907; 6. The great powers, sovereign equality and the making of the UN charter: San Francisco 1945; 7. Holy alliances: Verona 1818 and Kosovo 1999; Part IV. Histories: Outlaw States: 8. Unequal sovereigns 1815-1839; 9. Peace-loving nations: 1945; 10. Outlaw states: 1999; Part V. Conclusion: 11. Arguing about Afghanistan: great powers and outlaw states redux; 12. The puzzle of sovereignty.