Acknowledgements
My debts are numerous and of longstanding. Generations of students have asked tough questions and forced me to re-think settled opinions and assumptions. Colleagues at universities in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the USA have encouraged and challenged me productively at workshops and conferences where I have over many years presented some of the ideas brought together here. One colleague in particular has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with me for more than two decades now, my dear friend Jutta Brunnée. I have learned more from her than I can say.
For reading and critically commenting on previous drafts of this book, I want to thank my generous colleagues Jutta Brunnée, David Dyzenhaus, Tony Lang, Ron Levi, Rob McCorquodale, Cheryl Misak, David Naylor, René Provost, Janice Stein and Shauna Van Praagh. Paula Rosen offered trenchant comments on improving readability. The usual caveat applies: readers should not hold them responsible for any errors, weak arguments or infelicities that remain.
Readers’ comments were helpfully amplified when I delivered the COVID-delayed John V. Clyne Lectures at Green College, University of British Columbia, in September 2021. Participants, including newly arrived Green College postgraduate students, engaged thoughtfully with my arguments. For the challenge and encouragement, I am most grateful. The Principal, Prof. Mark Vessey, was an intellectually stimulating and generous host.
A bevy of external reviewers for Cambridge University Press, representing a range of disciplines, offered encouragement and practically helpful advice. To them, I also owe most sincere thanks. Finally, I would like to thank the team at Cambridge University Press who have been helpful and thoroughly professional from start to finish: Christopher Harrison, Tobias Ginsberg, Claire Sissen and Lyn Flight.
I am profoundly indebted to generations of research assistants, including Asher Alkoby, Andrew Bryan, Amos Friedland, Samuel Mosonyi, Mario Prost, Sean Rehaag, Paula Rochwerger, Chelsea Rubin, Mark Searl, Chris Tenove and Rachel Toope. They often did work that had no immediate application; I hope it was not too frustrating for them. It has all helped to shape my thinking. Some of those students have gone on to distinguished careers. Others are on the way.
Finally, I am beholden beyond measure to my funny and oh-so-talented wife, Paula. Her innate kindness and deep common sense have rubbed off on me and on our wonderful offspring, now including some pretty terrific grandchildren. They all show an admirable lack of pretension that helps point the way for me. For that, and for their constant support and encouragement, I am so very grateful. I cannot imagine a luckier fate than to be surrounded by this particular family.
