Great Powers and Outlaw States: Unequal Sovereigns in the International Legal Order / Edition 1

by Gerry Simpson

Overview

From the Congress of Vienna to the "war on terrorism", the roles of "great powers and outlaw states" have had a major impact on international relations. Gerry Simpson describes the ways in which an international legal order based on "sovereign equality" has accommodated the great powers and regulated outlaw states since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Simpson also offers a way of understanding recent transformations in the global political order by recalling the lessons of the past—in particular, through the recent violent conflicts in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521534901
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/22/2004
Series:	Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law , #32
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 8.98(h) x 1.02(d)

About the Author

Gerry Simpson is a Senior Lecturer in the Law Department at the London School of Economics where he teaches Public International Law and International Criminal Law. He has been a Legal Adviser to the Australian Government on international criminal law and was part of the Australian delegation at the Rome Conference in 1998 to establish an international criminal court. He has also worked for several non-governmental organisations and appears regularly in the media discussing the law of war crimes and the law on the use of force in international law. Previous publications include The Law of War Crimes (1997) with Tim McCormack and The Nature of International Law (2001).

Table of Contents

Foreword Professor James Crawford; Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Introduction: 1. Great powers and outlaw states; Part II. Concepts: 2. Sovereign equalities; 3. Legalised hierarchies; Part III. Histories: Great Powers: 4. Legalised hegemony: Vienna to The Hague 1815–1906; 5. 'Extreme equality': rupture at The Hague 1907; 6. The great powers, sovereign equality and the making of the UN charter: San Francisco 1945; 7. Holy alliances: Verona 1818 and Kosovo 1999; Part IV. Histories: Outlaw States: 8. Unequal sovereigns 1815–1839; 9. Peace-loving nations: 1945; 10. Outlaw states: 1999; Part V. Conclusion: 11. Arguing about Afghanistan: great powers and outlaw states redux; 12. The puzzle of sovereignty.

Editorial Reviews

'In this important new volume, Gerry Simpson elegantly demonstrates the relationship between law and politics … Simpson makes an important contribution to both fields … this is an important work that takes our understanding of the politics and law of sovereignty to a new level. It neatly combines theoretical and historical analysis and provides a new set of concepts that are sure to become a key part of the lexicon of sovereignty in both international relations and international law.' Alex J. Bellamy, International Affairs

'Simpson develops a credible and subtle explanation of the severe difficulties inherent in sovereign equality …' Political Science Quarterly

'Simpson's aim, to reclaim for legal discussion subjects often appropriated by the political sciences, is an important one. He presents his case with wit and flair, and much of the historical analysis would be of interest to the general reader as well as to international lawyers.' The Cambridge Law Journal

'Simpsons book challenges some of our most basic notions about international law in the past and present. The concepts of legalised hegemony and anti-pluralism, as well as Simpson's threefold understanding of sovereign equality are the prime tools for any historical study on the international legal order in the past three to four centuries. By focusing on the elements of hierarchy and exclusiveness within the international order, Simpson fills the blank spot on the map of international law and its history. This book can be recommended to all scholars with an interest in the history of international modern law.' Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law

'It is a brilliant work of theory of international law … Simpson's book is an important one. It challenges some of our most basic notions about international law in the past and the present. The concepts of legalised hegemony and anti-pluralism, as well as Simpson's threefold understanding of sovereign equality are prime tools for any historical study on the international legal order in the past three to four centuries. By focusing on the elements of hierarchy and exclusiveness within the international order, Simpson fills in a blank spot on the map of international law and its history. … can be recommended to all scholars with an interest in the history of modern international law.' Journal of the History of International Law

'The book contains refreshing and sometimes provoking thoughts and it is of interest for students and scholars well beyond the circle of international law.' Journal of Peace Research

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