The Oxford Handbook of the History of International Law

by Simone Peter, Anne Peters, Simone Peter

The Oxford Handbook of the History of International Law provides an authoritative and original overview of the origins, concepts, and core issues of international law. The first comprehensive Handbook on the history of international law, it is a truly unique contribution to the literature of international law and relations. Pursuing both a global and an interdisciplinary approach, the Handbook brings together some sixty eminent scholars of international law, legal history, and global history from all parts of the world.

Covering international legal developments from the 15th century until the end of World War II, the Handbook consists of over sixty individual chapters which are arranged in six parts. The book opens with an analysis of the principal actors in the history of international law, namely states, peoples and nations, international organisations and courts, and civil society actors. Part Two is devoted to a number of key themes of the history of international law, such as peace and war, the sovereignty of states, hegemony, religion, and the protection of the individual person. Part Three addresses the history of international law in the different regions of the world (Africa and Arabia, Asia, the Americas and the Caribbean, Europe), as well as 'encounters' between non-European legal cultures (like those of China, Japan, and India) and Europe which had a lasting impact on the body of international law. Part Four examines certain forms of 'interaction or imposition' in international law, such
as diplomacy (as an example of interaction) or colonization and domination (as an example of imposition of law). The classical juxtaposition of the civilized and the uncivilized is also critically studied. Part Five is concerned with problems of the method and theory of history writing in international law, for instance the periodisation of international law, or Eurocentrism in the traditional historiography of international law. The Handbook concludes with a Part Six, entitled "People in Portrait", which explores the life and work of twenty prominent scholars and thinkers of international law, ranging from Muhammad al-Shaybani to Sir Hersch Lauterpacht.

The Handbook will be an invaluable resource for scholars and students of international law. It provides historians with new perspectives on international law, and increases the historical and cultural awareness of scholars of international law. It aims to become the new standard reference work for the global history of international law.

Genres: Law, History, Nonfiction

1272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2012

Reviews

[Anka Ambrosia Ø]

This is a good reference book if someone is looking to understand a large historical overlay of international law and international relation doctrine and key players, with some key sources referenced that challenges a lot of international law history that refuses to confront the inherent contradictions in international law itself. However, I would take the information on the parts on China and Japan with a grain of salt, as it's oversimplification of the complex legal and politcal power moves that Europe and later America did to Asian countries was not well analyzed, even one person arguing that China was almost fine with what occurred with Britain - quite a statement. It's also curious to see a lack of literature on the dialectic between outer relations and inner power struggles of states, as what England did to others she first did to herself - especially what she did to the peasants both within and outside the state... However, one can only expect so much from Oxford - as to engage too much with Europe's contradictions would mean to engage directly with their own - an existential threat indeed... I'd recommend reading this in tandem with the book the Global Rift by L.S. Stavrianos, and Anthony Angies text, Imperialism, sovereignty, and the making of international law if you want a bigger picture of what's actually at stake within "international law".