Description
Book SynopsisInternational lawyers have long recognised the importance of interpretation to their academic discipline and professional practice. As new insights on interpretation abound in other fields, international law and international lawyers have largely remained wedded to a rule-based approach, focusing almost exclusively on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Such an approach neglects interpretation as a distinct and broader field of theoretical inquiry. Interpretation in International Law brings international legal scholars together to engage in sustained reflection on the theme of interpretation. The book is creatively structured around the metaphor of the game, which captures and illuminates the constituent elements of an act of interpretation. The object of the game of interpretation is to persuade the audience that one''s interpretation of the law is correct. The rules of play are known and complied with by the players, even though much is left to their skills and strategies.
Trade ReviewThere is much to commend here: the creativity on display, the eclectic range of topics canvassed, the way in which the volume brings together established and emerging scholars from a range of interpretive traditions. This thoughtful collection of essays is a valuable companion for those who face problems of interpretation in international law. * James Crawford, International Court of Justice *
Owing to the excellent level of its contributions and original structure, Interpretation in International Law represents a timely and innovative addition to the literature. . . [O]ffering invaluable insight on the nature and implications of interpretive mechanics and strategies, it will undoubtedly assist scholars of international law fascinated with interpretation as well as those interested in more general and systemic issues. * Niccolò Ridi, Kings Law Journal *
Interpretation in International Law is an original and thought-provoking edited volume dealing with a challenging issue of international legal theory, an issue that has a bearing on the way international legal interpretation is understood and ultimately conducted. * Odile Ammann, Harvard International Law Journal *
This book is a most valuable contribution that will surely be well received and widely quoted. It circles around the metaphor of game playing, which helps to explain many aspects of the interpretative process. Interpretation is a fascinating topic, and I do hope that this well-researched and well-written book prompts further research on interpretation in international law, its theory and its practice. * Christian Djeffal, European Journal of International Law *
Interpretation in International Law is explicitly different from much of the existing literature, and because of its perspective the book manages to add something new to that literature ... Its game analogy is an interesting and creative perspective on interpretation in international law ... [T]he different chapters show it can be employed to extract interesting results from practices that have hitherto primarily been analysed from positivist perspectives. * Sondre Torp Helmersen, UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence *
Table of ContentsPreface by James Crawford Introduction 1: Daniel Peat and Matthew Windsor: Playing the Game of Interpretation: On Meaning and Metaphor in International Law 2: Andrea Bianchi: The Game of Interpretation in International Law: The Players, The Cards, and why the Game is Worth the Candle The Object 3: Iain Scobbie: Rhetoric, Persuasion, and the Object of Interpretation in International Law 4: Duncan B Hollis: The Existential Function of Interpretation in International Law 5: Jean d'Aspremont: The Multidimensional Process of Interpretation: Content-Determination and Law-Ascertainment Distinguished The Players 6: Andraz Zidar: Interpretation and the International Legal Profession: Between Duty and Aspiration 7: Michael Waibel: Interpretive Communities in International Law 8: Gleider Hernández: Interpretative Authority and the International Judiciary The Rules 9: Eirik Bjorge: The Vienna Rules, Evolutionary Interpretation, and the Intentions of the Parties 10: Julian Arato: Accounting for Difference in Treaty Interpreation Over Time 11: Anne-Marie Carstens: Interpreting Transplanted Treaty Rules The Strategies 12: Fuad Zarbiyev: A Genealogy of Textualism in Treaty Interpretation 13: Harlan Grant Cohen: Theorizing Precedent in International Law 14: René Provost: Interpretation in International Law as a Transcultural Project Playing the Game of Game-Playing 15: Jens Olesen: Towards a Politics of Hermeneutics 16: Martin Wählisch: Cognitive Frames of Interpretation in International Law 17: Ingo Venzke: Is Interpretation in International Law a Game? Conclusion 18: Philip Allott: Interpretation- an Exact Art
