International Law and the Rise of China

21 Pages Posted: 15 May 2006

See all articles by Eric A. Posner

Eric A. Posner

University of Chicago - Law School

John Yoo

University of California at Berkeley School of Law; American Enterprise Institute; Stanford University - The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace

Abstract

The rise of China raises questions about the future of international law. The current system of international law depends largely on American hegemony, along with the dominance of western European states that share America's general goals and values. It is possible that China in the future will not threaten this system, either because China comes to share these goals and values or because China breaks apart. But the more likely scenario is that China will compete with the U.S. for regional and then global influence. We argue that in such a world the current system of international law will not be viable, and that future international law will resemble either the nineteenth century balance of powers system, or the cold war bipolar system.

Suggested Citation

Posner, Eric A. and Yoo, John, International Law and the Rise of China. Chicago Journal of International Law, Forthcoming, U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 127, UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper No. 901997, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=901997

Eric A. Posner (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Law School ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/posner-e/

John Yoo

University of California at Berkeley School of Law ( email )

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American Enterprise Institute ( email )

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Stanford University - The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace ( email )

Stanford, CA 94305-6010
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.hoover.org/profiles/john-yoo

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