Innate Cosmopolitanism
The immanent collective in international law
Geoff Gordon(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 5. January 2026
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-1-138-79135-0 (ISBN)
Description
This book brings to light a neglected program of cosmopolitan normativity in international law - innate cosmopolitanism - that holds special significance in this time of competing efforts to define and direct an expanding global public order. Beginning from an intentionally broad use of the term cosmopolitan, derived from etymological roots in the cosmo-polis, Geoff Gordon draws out the main streams of thought associated with cosmopolitanism over time in discourses of international law and politics. The two best-recognized are liberal cosmopolitanism and constitutional cosmopolitanism. And, In addition to these, he introduces a third: innate cosmopolitanism. Whilst liberal cosmopolitanism is organized around the abstract individual, and constitutional cosmopolitanism is organized around the achievement of a formal arrangement, innate cosmopolitanism, is organized around a naturally-occurring collective whole: comprising all of humanity at any point in time, and understood as a historical phenomenon capable of exhibiting a will, interests or ends of its own. As such, innate cosmopolitanism is more central to the historical narrative of international law than either liberal or constitutional cosmopolitanism. It is, he argues, is the leitmotif of international law. Clarifying, consolidating - and critiquing - cosmopolitan thought, the book thus brings to light an ill-appreciated stream of cosmopolitan normativity in international law, and subject it to critique. It will be of huge interest to specialists and students of international law and politics, and especially those concerned with ideas and theories of global order or international society.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-138-79135-0 (9781138791350)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Geoff Gordon is based at the Department of Transnational Studies, Vrije University, Amsterdam
Content
1. Introduction 2. The innate cosmopolitan idea in international legal theory 3. Comparing innate cosmopolitanism with liberal & constitutional cosmopolitan doctrine 4. Cosmopolitan norms in the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice 5. Conclusion