Autorentext
Martti Koskenniemi is Professor of International Law at the University of Helsinki. His works on the theory and history of international law are studied by lawyers, historians and international relations scholars across the world. He has held visiting professorships at many leading universities and he is Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Klappentext

A critical history of European sovereignty and property rights as the foundation of the international order in 1300-1870.

Zusammenfassung
The book demonstrates the vital role of played by legal imagination in the history of European State-formation in 13001870. After lawyers had learned to connect sovereignty with property rights at home, both ideas would eventually expand and lay the groundwork for the modern international order and global capitalism.

Inhalt

Introduction; 1. Legal Imagination in a Christian World - Ruling France, c. 1300; 2. The Political Philosophy of jus gentium - the Expansion of Spain, 1524-1559; 3. Italian Lessons - ius gentium and Reason of States; 4. The Rule of Law - Grotius; 5. Governing Sovereignty - Negotiating French 'Absolutism' in Europe, 1625-1715; 6. Reason, Resolution, Restoration - European Public Law, 1715-1804; 7. Colonies, Companies, Slaves - French dominium in the World, 1627-1804; 8. The Law and Economics of State-Building - England, c. 1450-c. 1650; 9. 'Giving Law to the World - England, c. 1635-c. 1830; 10. Global Law - Ruling the British Empire; 11. A Science of State-Machines - ius naturae et gentium as a German Discipline, 1500-1758; 12. The End of Natural Law - German Freedom, 1734-1821; Epilogue.