The Decay of International Law: A Reappraisal of the Limits of Legal Imagination in International Affairs, with a New Introduction - Paperback

by Anthony Carty (Author)

Originally published in 1986 this book has become a classic of international law literature. It was a penetrating critique of the methodology of international law as it had come to be understood and accepted by the generality of international lawyers. It called for a realisation of the crucial role which international lawyers should play in reflecting in the nature and implications of the principles and arguments used by governments and other actors in the international stage. It called for a positive legal analysis of international issues. This edition comes with a new 10,000 word introduction that will put the original work it in its proper historical context. New generations of international legal scholars who did not read Carty in the 1980s and who have had little chance to do so since then because of the book's unavailability will show a great deal of interest in delving into the thoughts of one of the most influential critical legal thinkers.

Front Jacket

Originally published in 1986 The decay of international law? has become a classic of international law literature. At the time it was considered a unique and penetrating critique of the methodology of international law as it had come to be understood and accepted by the generality of international lawyers. In it, Carty called for a realisation of the crucial role which international lawyers should play in reflecting in the nature and implications of the principles and arguments used by governments and other actors in the international stage. This edition includes a new introduction from Carty that puts the original work within its historical context, clarifies its original arguments and defends against subsequent critiques. It further situates the original against current critical approaches in the field, at a time where recent developments globally mean it has never been more relevant. New generations of international legal scholars who did not read this in the 1980s will show a great deal of interest in delving into the thoughts of one of the most influential critical legal thinkers of today.

Back Jacket

Originally published in 1986 The decay of international law? has become a classic of international law literature. At the time it was considered a unique and penetrating critique of the methodology of international law as it had come to be understood and accepted by the generality of international lawyers. In it, Carty called for a realisation of the crucial role which international lawyers should play in reflecting in the nature and implications of the principles and arguments used by governments and other actors in the international stage.

This edition includes a new introduction from Carty that puts the original work within its historical context, clarifies its original arguments and defends against subsequent critiques. It further situates the original against current critical approaches in the field, at a time where recent developments globally mean it has never been more relevant. New generations of international legal scholars who did not read this in the 1980s will show a great deal of interest in delving into the thoughts of one of the most influential critical legal thinkers of today.

Author Biography

Tony Carty holds the Sir Y K Pao Chair Professorship of Public Law in the University of Hong Kong; he also serves as Professor of Public Law in the University of Aberdeen