Book contents
- Rule in International Politics
- Rule in International Politics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I Theorizing Rule
- Part II Practicing Rule
- 5 How Rule Generates Its Own Authority
- 6 The Region as Site of Rule
- 7 Law, Anarchy, and Rule
- Part III Resisting Rule
- Index
- References
7 - Law, Anarchy, and Rule
The Authority of the International Rule of Law
from Part II - Practicing Rule
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 June 2023
By
Book contents
- Rule in International Politics
- Rule in International Politics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I Theorizing Rule
- Part II Practicing Rule
- 5 How Rule Generates Its Own Authority
- 6 The Region as Site of Rule
- 7 Law, Anarchy, and Rule
- Part III Resisting Rule
- Index
- References
Summary
The ideology of the rule of law posits a hierarchical relationship with law and rules in a position of authority over the subjects. In international affairs, this is represented by the popular view that international order follows once governments accept the authority of international law and institutions. The idea that states are subordinate to international law is central to the international rule of law, but it directly contradicts the equally popular image of international affairs as a domain of anarchy. Anarchy presumes that governments are not subordinate to any source of authority while the rule of law says that they are. The fact that two apparently fundamental assumptions of international theory are incompatible with each other suggests an urgent need to look closely at both. This chapter examines the ideology of the international rule of law and compares it with domestic notions of the rule of law and with the idea of international anarchy. Once the rule of law is understood as a language of political justification, we can begin to make sense of its position as a source of authority that is superordinate to governments.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Rule in International Politics , pp. 163 - 186Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023
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