From Apology to Utopia The Structure of International Legal Argument [Paperback]

This 2006 reissue presents a view of international law as a practice that aims to 'depoliticise' international relations.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.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.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.1. Objectivity in international law: conventional dilemmas; 2. Doctrinal history: the liberal l“.