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Universalism Renewed: Habermas' Theory of International Order in Light of Competing Paradigms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

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Social order is the telos of law and politics. This study will present Jürgen Habermas' thought on this topic as one of the most important of the last forty years. By collocating it within the broader discussion on social order, we will highlight the potential, but also some problems of his universalistic proposal in light of challenges at the outset of the 21st century. This article argues that Habermas' communicative paradigm provides a conceptual framework for a universal public law protecting peace and human rights in an effective and legitimate way. It can be understood as a regulative idea, guiding transformative work of scholars, politicians and lawyers, rather than as a theoretical instrument that conceptualises international law in its current institutional setting.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 by German Law Journal GbR 

References

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