Organised by the International Law Working Group, this event features a presentation of Professor Antony Anghie’s book (University of Utah).
For the second session, the International Law Working Group will be discussing Antony Anghie, Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2005).
This book argues that the colonial confrontation was central to the formation of international law and, in particular, its founding concept, sovereignty. Traditional histories of the discipline present colonialism and non-European peoples as peripheral concerns. By contrast, Antony Anghie argues that international law has always been animated by the 'civilizing mission' - the project of governing non-European peoples, and that the economic exploitation and cultural subordination that resulted were constitutively significant for the discipline. In developing these arguments, the book examines different phases of the colonial encounter, ranging from the sixteenth century to the League of Nations period and the current 'war on terror'. Anghie provides a new approach to the history of international law, illuminating the enduring imperial character of the discipline and its continuing importance for peoples of the Third World.
The International Law Reading Group provides an informal space where we can meet and discuss some foundational works of international legal thought - those kinds of texts we often cite, but rarely take the chance to fully read. We plan to hold several sessions throughout the academic year, depending on participants’ interest and availability.
To ensure a rich and engaging conversation, please familiarise yourself with the reading beforehand. A digital version is available through the EUI’s library services.
Like last time, after the session, we’d like to invite all the participants for pizza, at either Antica Badia or San Domenico (tbc) - this time, provided by the cluster.
Register