Hugo Grotius and International Relations

Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), was famous as a child prodigy, theologian, historian, poet, jurist, Dutch political figure, escaped political prisoner and finally as Sweden's ambassador to France. While Grotius' works have long been held in high esteem by international lawyers, this book addresses the broader theme of his contribution to international relations both in its theoretical and practical aspects. The contributors critically reappraise Grotius' thought on international relations, examining it in relation to his predecessors and in the context of the wars and controversies of his time. They also assess the strengths and weaknesses of what is often called a "Grotian" tradition of thought about international relations: one which accepts the sovereignty of states, but at the same time stresses the existence of shared values and the necessity of rules. This collection illuminates enduring problems of international relations: the nature of international society and its institutions, the equality of states, restraints in war, collective security, military intervention, the rights of the individual and the law of the sea.
While first and foremost a study in the field of international relations, it also makes a contribution to the history and theory of international law, and to the history of the early 17th century, when the system of European states was emerging in its modern form.