Law Beyond the State: Dynamic coordination, state consent, and binding international law

Carmen E. Pavel*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, international politics is increasingly governed by legal rules and institutions. Yet widespread skepticism of its value and transformative potential, and sometimes outright hostility toward it, abound. This book provides a normative justification for international law. Namely, it argues that the same reasons which support the development of law at the domestic level-the promotion of peace; the protection of individual rights; the facilitation of extensive, complex forms of cooperation; and the resolution of collective action problems-also support the development of law at the international level. The book offers moral and legal reasons for states to improve, strengthen, and further institutionalize the capacity of international law. The argument thus engages in institutional moral reasoning. It also shows why it should matter to individuals that their states are part of a rule-governed international order. When states are bound by common rules of behavior, their citizens reap the benefits. International law encourages states to protect individual rights and provides a forum where they can communicate, negotiate, and compromise on their differences in order to protect themselves from outside interference and pursue their domestic policies more effectively, including those directed at enhancing their citizen’s welfare. Thus, international law makes a critical, irreplaceable, and defining contribution to an international order characterized by peace and justice.

Original languageEnglish
PublisherOxford University Press
Number of pages202
ISBN (Electronic)9780197543894
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • Constitutionalism
  • Human rights
  • International law
  • Legal pluralism
  • Realism
  • Rule of law
  • Social science
  • Sovereignty
  • State consent

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Law Beyond the State: Dynamic coordination, state consent, and binding international law'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this