Does Humanity Law Require (or Imply) A Progressive Theory of History? (And Other Questions for Martti Koskenniemi)

Temple Journal of International Law, Forthcoming

NYU School of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 13-67

19 Pages Posted: 11 Oct 2013 Last revised: 23 Oct 2013

See all articles by Robert L. Howse

Robert L. Howse

New York University School of Law

Ruti Teitel

New York Law School

Date Written: October 10, 2013

Abstract

In a number of essays over the last decade or so, Martti Koskenniemi has analyzed post-cold war developments in international law, especially the human rights revolution or the emergence of "humanity law" (Teitel, Humanity’s Law). In these works, Koskenniemi asserts a close, if not essential, connection between optimistic or progressive theories of history and liberal, cosmopolitan, post- or anti-statist approaches to international law. We challenge Koskenniemi’s arguments that humanity law is associated with a dogmatically progressive theory of history, that it is oriented toward a world government, that it relies on a version of historical determinism, that it posits a false universalism, and that legal indeterminacy undermines its claims. Many of our disagreements are related to Koskenniemi’s reading of Kant, and we explain in some detail where our readings diverge. Other differences reflect our competing notions of how contemporary law works, particularly the significance of non-state actors and the effects of international law beyond and below the state.

Suggested Citation

Howse, Robert and Teitel, Ruti, Does Humanity Law Require (or Imply) A Progressive Theory of History? (And Other Questions for Martti Koskenniemi) (October 10, 2013). Temple Journal of International Law, Forthcoming, NYU School of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 13-67, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2338519

Robert Howse (Contact Author)

New York University School of Law ( email )

40 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012-1099
United States

Ruti Teitel

New York Law School ( email )

185 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
354
Abstract Views
2,598
Rank
154,957
PlumX Metrics