The Dynamics of International Law

Offers a new framework for analysing international law and presents a theory of international legal change.

Paul F. Diehl (Author), Charlotte Ku (Author)

9780521198523, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 January 2010

214 pages
23.4 x 15.7 x 1.5 cm, 0.47 kg

"Diehl and Ku's book, particularly its focus on the normative and operating systems, contributes nicely to this growing literature on international legal change."
Jacob Katz CoganUniversity of Cincinnati College of Law

Paul F. Diehl and Charlotte Ku's new framework for international law divides it into operating and normative systems. The authors provide a theory of how these two systems interact, which explains how changes in one system precipitate changes and create capacity in the other. A punctuated equilibrium theory of system evolution, drawn from studies of biology and public policy studies, provides the basis for delineating the conditions for change and helps explain a pattern of international legal change that is often infrequent and sub-optimal, but still influential.

1. Introduction
2. A new framework for analysis and a model for legal change
3. The influence of normative change on the operating system
4. Extra-systemic adaptations to systemic imbalance
5. The influence of the operating system on normative change
6. Implications and future directions.

Subject Areas: Public international law [LBB]