'Kratochwil is one of the few contemporary academics straddling the line between international relations theory and international law. He is not just a political scientist, but a political thinker firmly based in classic as well as modern social philosophy. The meditations assembled in the present book bring out the best in Kratochwil's writing: they are enlightening, of course, but they are also a pleasure to read, acerbic, iconoclastic and challenging our established wisdom on many concepts we have taken for granted.' Bruno Simma, University of Michigan and former judge, International Court of Justice

'This masterful new book argues that a deep understanding of international law comes not from theory but reflection on how it is used and what it does. Eclectic, incisive and richly rewarding!' Jutta Brunnée, University of Toronto

'This book is an odyssey - not of a pre-programmed torpedo or a piece of driftwood but of a ship commanded by a relentlessly inquisitive, self-reflective and self-doubting captain committed to the perils of his journey more than the safety of ports. Unexpected intellectual discoveries occur along the way on innumerable beachheads of original thought offering compressed ruminations of a lifetime of learning. An exhilarating read.' Peter J. Katzenstein, Cornell University

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'Kratochwil skillfully weaves sharp epistemological and methodological observations with insightful analyses of the limits of interdisciplinary work in international relations, the fragmentation of international law, and the politics of rights. By turns witty, provocative and profound, this book should be essential reading for all students and scholars of international relations and international law.' Jeffrey L. Dunoff, Temple University

'Kratochwil has written the international law book of the year. There is much here to admire, there is much to take to heart and also (he will be delighted to see) some things to disagree with.' Jan Klabbers, European Journal of International Law

Friedrich Kratochwil's book explores the role of law in the international arena and the key discourses surrounding it. It explains the increased importance of law for politics, from law-fare to the judicialization of politics, to human rights, and why traditional expectations of progress through law have led to disappointment. Providing an overview of the debates in legal theory, philosophy, international law and international organizations, Kratochwil reflects on the need to break down disciplinary boundaries and address important issues in both international relations and international law, including deformalization, fragmentation, the role of legal pluralism, the emergence of autonomous autopoietic systems and the appearance of non-territorial forms of empire. He argues that the pretensions of a positivist theory in social science and of positivism in law are inappropriate for understanding practical problems and formulates an approach for the analysis of praxis based on constructivism and pragmatism.
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Preface; Introduction: images of law; 1. Inter-disciplinarity, the epistemological ideal of incontrovertible foundations and the problem of praxis; 2. On the concept of law; 3. On constitutions and fragmented orders; 4. Of experts, helpers, and enthusiasts; 5. The power of metaphors and narratives: systems, teleology, evolution and the issue of the 'global community'; 6. Cosmopolitanism, publicity, and the emergence of a 'global administrative law'; 7. The politics of rights; 8. The limits and burdens of rights; 9. The bounds of (non)-sense.
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Friedrich Kratochwil's book explores the key discourses and debates surrounding the role of law in the international arena.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781107681071
Publisert
2014-03-13
Utgiver
Vendor
Cambridge University Press
Vekt
530 gr
Høyde
228 mm
Bredde
150 mm
Dybde
15 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
323

Biographical note

Friedrich Kratochwil is Emeritus Chair of International Relations at the European University Institute in Florence, Visiting Professor at the Central European University, Budapest and International Scholar at Kyung Hee University, Seoul. His work addresses epistemological and theoretical problems in international relations, international law, international organization and social theory. He was editor of the European Journal of International Relations and has served on various editorial boards. He is the author of several books, including Rules, Norms, and Decisions (Cambridge University Press, 1989) and The Puzzles of Politics, an anthology of articles (2011).