The Law of Humanity Project
A Story of International Law Reform and State-making
Published on 12. August 2021
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-1-5099-3891-9 (ISBN)
Description
This book provides the first comprehensive introduction to the role of humanity in international law, offering a fresh perspective to a discussions with global implications. The 1990s and the first decade of the twenty-first century witnessed the sporadic emergence of a new vision of global law. Although the vision has taken many different forms, all instances of it have been uniform in the attempt of radically altering how we understand international law by seeking to posit the human as the primary subject of the international legal order and humanity as its main source of legitimacy. Together, this book calls these instances "the law of humanity project". In so doing, it also paints a picture of and critically assesses a particular moment in the history of international law - a moment which may have already come to a sudden end as a consequence of the current populist backlash in world politics, but during which it seemed inevitable that the law of humanity vision would come to play an increasingly important role in world affairs.
Reviews / Votes
This work harmonizes the different concepts encapsulated by the project and charts its 'rise, fall and potential rebirth'. The author importantly critiques how the language of humanity has been detrimental in achieving the changes in the international system that have been argued for by theorists on the law of humanity. Focusing on human rights, human security, and human dignity as core concepts in the law of humanity project, Soirila challenges the echo chamber in which many academics reside ... a useful synthesis of a broad range of theoretical approaches ... I hope that this work will help bring the broad church of humanity theorists together. -- Alexander Gilder * Leiden Journal of International Law *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
467 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5099-3891-9 (9781509938919)
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
Ukri Soirila is a Senior Lecturer in International Law at the University of Helsinki and a Research Fellow at the Erik Castren Institute, Finland.
Content
1. Introduction
I. The Post-Cold War World and the Humanisation of International Law
II. Contributions and Arguments
III. Outline
2. Visions of Law of Humanity
I. Different Approaches to the Law of Humanity
A. The New Global Law of Humanity as a System of Systems
B. Humanised International Law - A Radical Take
C. Emergent Humanity's Law
D. Other and Alternative Approaches
II. Key Characteristics of the Law of Humanity Theories
A. The Central Roles of the Individual and Humanity
B. The Diminishing Role of the State
C. Change through Concepts
3. Concepts of Law of Humanity
I. The Promises and the Challenges
II. Human Rights
III. Human Security
IV. Human Dignity
4. Humanity Language in Action
I. Rights and Obligations of Individuals: International Human Rights, Investment and Criminal Law
II. Humanitarian Occupations
III. War on Terrorism
IV. Responsibility to Protect
V. Humanitarian Governance of Refugees
VI. Observations
5. Inequality and the Populist Backlash: The Law of Humanity Project at a Crossroads
I. On the Root Causes of the Backlash
II. A Struggle of Projects
A. The Law of Humanity Project and Managerialism
B. The Law of Humanity Project and Neoliberalism
III. Paths Ahead from the Crossroads
A. A Struggles Perspective to Concepts
B. Engagement with Grassroot Struggles
C. Sovereignty, Global Actors and the Battle for the State
D. Will to Power
6. Conclusion
I. The Post-Cold War World and the Humanisation of International Law
II. Contributions and Arguments
III. Outline
2. Visions of Law of Humanity
I. Different Approaches to the Law of Humanity
A. The New Global Law of Humanity as a System of Systems
B. Humanised International Law - A Radical Take
C. Emergent Humanity's Law
D. Other and Alternative Approaches
II. Key Characteristics of the Law of Humanity Theories
A. The Central Roles of the Individual and Humanity
B. The Diminishing Role of the State
C. Change through Concepts
3. Concepts of Law of Humanity
I. The Promises and the Challenges
II. Human Rights
III. Human Security
IV. Human Dignity
4. Humanity Language in Action
I. Rights and Obligations of Individuals: International Human Rights, Investment and Criminal Law
II. Humanitarian Occupations
III. War on Terrorism
IV. Responsibility to Protect
V. Humanitarian Governance of Refugees
VI. Observations
5. Inequality and the Populist Backlash: The Law of Humanity Project at a Crossroads
I. On the Root Causes of the Backlash
II. A Struggle of Projects
A. The Law of Humanity Project and Managerialism
B. The Law of Humanity Project and Neoliberalism
III. Paths Ahead from the Crossroads
A. A Struggles Perspective to Concepts
B. Engagement with Grassroot Struggles
C. Sovereignty, Global Actors and the Battle for the State
D. Will to Power
6. Conclusion