The Politics of International Law - 20 Years Later

Posted: 21 Apr 2009

See all articles by Martti Koskenniemi

Martti Koskenniemi

University of Helsinki - Faculty of Law

Date Written: February 2009

Abstract

The essay examines some of the changes in my own thinking about the politics of engaging in international law since the original publication of the article that opened the first issue of EJIL in 1990. The essay points to the change of focus from indeterminacy (to which I am as committed as ever) of legal arguments to the structural biases of international institutions. It then discusses the politics of definition, that is to say, the strategic practice of defining international situations and problems in new expert languages so as to gain control over them. It attacks the increasing ‘managerialism’ in the field and ends with a few reflections about the significance of the moment of the establishment of the Journal 20 years ago.

Suggested Citation

Koskenniemi, Martti, The Politics of International Law - 20 Years Later (February 2009). European Journal of International Law, Vol. 20, Issue 1, pp. 7-19, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1389128 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chp006

Martti Koskenniemi (Contact Author)

University of Helsinki - Faculty of Law ( email )

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