The Limits of International LawInternational law is much debated and discussed, but poorly understood. Does international law matter, or do states regularly violate it with impunity? If international law is of no importance, then why do states devote so much energy to negotiating treaties and providing legal defenses for their actions? In turn, if international law does matter, why does it reflect the interests of powerful states, why does it change so often, and why are violations of international law usually not punished? In this book, Jack Goldsmith and Eric Posner argue that international law matters but that it is less powerful and less significant than public officials, legal experts, and the media believe. International law, they contend, is simply a product of states pursuing their interests on the international stage. It does not pull states towards compliance contrary to their interests, and the possibilities for what it can achieve are limited. It follows that many global problems are simply unsolvable. The book has important implications for debates about the role of international law in the foreign policy of the United States and other nations. The authors see international law as an instrument for advancing national policy, but one that is precarious and delicate, constantly changing in unpredictable ways based on non-legal changes in international politics. They believe that efforts to replace international politics with international law rest on unjustified optimism about international law's past accomplishments and present capacities. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 76
Page 3
... explain how international law works by integrating the study of international law with the realities of international politics. Our theory gives pride of place to two elements of international politics usually neglected or discounted by ...
... explain how international law works by integrating the study of international law with the realities of international politics. Our theory gives pride of place to two elements of international politics usually neglected or discounted by ...
Page 5
... explain later), and through various domestic institutions states can and do maintain their corporate identity. Both ordinary language and history suggest that states have agency and thus can be said to make decisions and act on the ...
... explain later), and through various domestic institutions states can and do maintain their corporate identity. Both ordinary language and history suggest that states have agency and thus can be said to make decisions and act on the ...
Page 6
... explain state action on the international plane in terms of the primary goal or goals the state seeks to achieve. We ... explaining the significance of the ratification process for treaties, or in analyzing the domestic interest groups ...
... explain state action on the international plane in terms of the primary goal or goals the state seeks to achieve. We ... explaining the significance of the ratification process for treaties, or in analyzing the domestic interest groups ...
Page 8
... explanation of international law, or, for that matter, even domestic law, would be suspect. Cycling is probably most ... explained earlier, when states exist, people have adopted institutions that ensure that governments choose generally ...
... explanation of international law, or, for that matter, even domestic law, would be suspect. Cycling is probably most ... explained earlier, when states exist, people have adopted institutions that ensure that governments choose generally ...
Page 9
... explain international law in terms of state interests. We doubt it is true to any important degree, but we cannot prove the point. On the other hand, constructivists have not shown that international law transforms individual and state ...
... explain international law in terms of state interests. We doubt it is true to any important degree, but we cannot prove the point. On the other hand, constructivists have not shown that international law transforms individual and state ...
Contents
3 | |
19 | |
Part 2 Treaties | 79 |
Part 3 Rhetoric Morality and International Law | 163 |
Conclusion | 225 |
Acknowledgments | 227 |
Notes | 229 |
References | 235 |
Index | 253 |
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Common terms and phrases
argue behavioral regularity belligerent benefits bilateral Britain British chapter cheap talk citizens claim coastal fishing vessels coercion coincidence of interest collective action problems commitment compliance comply with international consent coordination game cosmopolitan cosmopolitan action cosmopolitan duties cosmopolitan sentiments costs Court customary international law democratic diplomatic diplomatic immunity domestic law enforcement engage evidence example explain fishing vessel exemption foreign policy free ships GATT human rights abuses human rights law human rights treaties ICCPR individuals institutions international relations leaders legal obligation liberal democracies ment military moral obligation multilateral treaties navy negotiations neutral ships nonlegal agreements norms opinio juris other’s Paquete Habana parties payoffs preferences ratify rational choice rational choice theory reason reflect regime retaliation RUDs self-interest sense of legal slave trade Soviet Union state’s talk tariffs ternational territorial sea three-mile rule tions trade barriers trade treaties U.S. Civil War United vessel exemption rule violate voters