When International Law Works
Realistic Idealism After 9/11 and the Global Recession
1st Edition
Published on 16. February 2012
Book
Hardback
364 pages
978-0-19-537017-1 (ISBN)
Description
When International Law Works stands to change the way states and scholars look at this contentious topic. In this seminal work, Professor Tai-Heng Cheng addresses the current international law debates and transcends them. Responding to influential statements on international law by such scholars as Goldsmith, Posner, O'Connell, and Guzman, Cheng presents a new framework that decisionmakers should consider when they confront an international problem that implicates the often competing policies and interests of their own communities and global order. Instead of advocating for or against international law as legitimate or binding, as many commentators do, Cheng adknowledges both its shortcomings while presenting a practical means of deciding whether compliance in a given circumstance is beneficial, moral, or necessary. In this manner Cheng shows how it is possible for decisionmakers to take international law and its limitations seriously without actually needing to determine whether or not international law is "law."
To demonstrate how his new proposal for approaching international law would work in a real crisis, Cheng provides numerous case studies from contemporary history that test his theory. Ranging topically from the current global economic crisis to the West's war on Islamist terrorism, these detailed and demonstrative case studies set this book apart from similar works of international legal scholarship.
By combining theory with practice, When International Law Works gives lawyers, judges, policymakers, academics and students 'real world' guidance on how to face new global problems. In doing so, this new book challenges readers to rethink the role of law in an increasingly crisis-driven world.
To demonstrate how his new proposal for approaching international law would work in a real crisis, Cheng provides numerous case studies from contemporary history that test his theory. Ranging topically from the current global economic crisis to the West's war on Islamist terrorism, these detailed and demonstrative case studies set this book apart from similar works of international legal scholarship.
By combining theory with practice, When International Law Works gives lawyers, judges, policymakers, academics and students 'real world' guidance on how to face new global problems. In doing so, this new book challenges readers to rethink the role of law in an increasingly crisis-driven world.
Reviews / Votes
The book opens a door to thinking further about how international law plays a significant role in the 21st century. ... Cheng shows his academic courage by bravely confronting tough issues, and makes frank and honest comments about them. * Yao Huang, Chinese Journal of International Law * Professor Cheng has offered a fresh prespective on the role of international law in international affairs which is to be warmly welcomed. * Chester Brown (Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney), International and Comparative Law Quarterly * Cheng shows his academic courage by bravely confronting tough issues, and makes frank and honest comments about them. * Yao Huang, Chinese Journal of International Law * In the book, Professor Cheng provides a stimulating review of the various theories on the nature of international law and an interesting examination of the roles of various decision makers and the competing considerations they must take into account. * Chester Brown, Journal of ICLQ *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Policy makers, agency staff, NGO officers, legal academics, law students, political scientists, and historians.
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
708 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-537017-1 (9780195370171)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Tai-Heng Cheng is Professor of International Law and Director of the Institute for Global Law, Justice, and Policy at New York Law School. His published scholarship includes the book State Succession and Commercial Obligations (2006) and articles in the University of Illinois Law Review, the Cornell Journal of International Law, and the Michigan Journal of International Law. Professor Cheng is an elected member of the American Society of International Law's Executive Council, and co-chair of ASIL's 2011 Annual Meeting and chair of its 2012 Awards Committee. He holds degrees from Yale Law School and Oxford University.
Content
Chapter One: Confronting Anxieties About International Law ; I. The Relevance and Irrelevance of Law ; II. Contemporary Debates ; III. Thesis ; A. The Central Case ; B. Effectiveness ; C. Legitimacy ; IV. Terms ; V. Outline of Inquiry ; VI. Conclusion ; Chapter Two: The Politics of Theorizing ; I. A Historical Survey ; II. Antiquity ; III. Middle Ages ; IV. Early Modernism ; V. Late Modernism ; VI. Post-Modernism ; VII. Choices in Theorizing ; VIII. Political and Normative Values in Theorizing ; IX. Conclusion ; Chapter Three: Legalism and Morality ; I. Framing the Inquiry ; II. Choices ; III. Legalism ; A. The UN Security Council ; B. International Court of Justice ; C. Conclusions About Legalism ; IV. The Morality of International Law ; A. Basic Values ; B. Moral Obligations ; C. Realist Critiques ; D. Liberal Critique ; E. Legal Obligations ; V. Guidance to Officials ; A. Morality ; B. Institutional Functions ; C. Effectiveness ; D. The Indeterminacy Paradox ; VI. Conclusion ; Chapter Four: Judges ; I. Theory ; A. Judicial Functions ; B. General Morality ; C. Specific Morality ; D. Effectiveness ; II. Praxis ; A. The Pedra Branca Case ; 1. Legalism ; 2. Morality ; 3. Effectiveness ; B. The Nicaragua Case ; 1. Legalism ; a. Provisional Measures ; b. El Salvador's Intervention ; c. Decision on Jurisdiction ; d. Merits ; 2. Effectiveness ; 3. Morality ; 4. Feedback Loops ; C. The Avena Case ; 1. Legalism ; 2. Effectiveness ; 3. Morality ; 4. Feedback Loops ; III. Conclusion ; Chapter Five: Arbitrators ; I. Theory ; A. Arbitral Functions ; B. General Morality ; C. Specific Morality ; D. Effectiveness ; II. Praxis. ; A. United States-Stainless Steel (Mexico), Implementing Award ; B. Loewen Group, Inc. v. United States of America ; C. CMS Gas Transmission Co. v. Argentine Republic, Decision on Annulment ; III. Conclusion ; Chapter Six: Regulators ; I. Theory ; II. Praxis ; A. The Global Financial Crisis ; B Responses and Decisions of Regulators ; C. The Financial Stability Board ; D. Guidance for Regulators ; III. Conclusion ; Chapter Seven: Legal Advisors ; I. Theory ; A. The Legal Advisor's Functions ; B. General Morality ; C. Specific Morality ; D. Interests and Effectiveness ; II. Praxis ; A. Abu Ghraib Prison ; B. Waterboarding ; 1. Factual Assumptions ; 2. International Legal Prescriptions ; 3. The Interrogation Memoranda ; 4. General Morality ; 5. Specific Morality ; 6. Guidance to Advisors ; 7. Alternative Scenarios ; III. Conclusion ; Chapter Eight: Officials ; I. Theory ; II. Praxis ; A. The 1990 Gulf War ; 1. Specific Morality ; 2. General Morality and Effectiveness ; 3. Feedback Loops ; B. NATO Bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ; 1 General Morality ; 2. Specific Morality ; 3. Feedback Loops ; C. The 2003 Invasion of Iraq ; 1. General Morality ; 2. Specific Morality ; 3. Feedback Loops ; III. Conclusion ; Chapter Nine: Law Beyond Laws ; I. Reframing Debates ; II. Situating Among Theories ; III. Results from Case Studies ; IV. Conclusion