marisbest2's review
5.0
This book was fascinating and excellent. The this is that the formation of an international law based on the outlawing of war actually was very impactful (rather than nuclear war or moral development or the outrage of WW2). The argument seems to be well supported.
But what makes this book powerful is the interweaving of the underlying philosophies, the human stories of the various thinkers and politicians who defined those philosophies and the big picture effects of those philosophies.
Part 1 does a remarkable job explaining the so called Old World Order making clear how it was a total system. Part 2 does the same, explaining how WW2 was a war between old and new world orders. Part 3 is all about how effective (and ineffective) the new world order is.
Overall just very good
But what makes this book powerful is the interweaving of the underlying philosophies, the human stories of the various thinkers and politicians who defined those philosophies and the big picture effects of those philosophies.
Part 1 does a remarkable job explaining the so called Old World Order making clear how it was a total system. Part 2 does the same, explaining how WW2 was a war between old and new world orders. Part 3 is all about how effective (and ineffective) the new world order is.
Overall just very good
ariel_bloomer's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This was a fascinating history of war and how the legalities and justifications of war have changed in the modern era, the intended and unintended consequences of the outlawry of war. So much of what was covered in this book asked me to pause and turn over ideas I had taken for granted. It also unexpectedly answered a burning question I’ve always had: why does international mail work with only the sending country’s postage. Go figure.
Also, the time I read this book Russia is invading Ukraine (which was also happening while the book was being written), and so it is easy to see some of the concepts laid forward around articulating justifications, outcasting, sanctions, and more in action currently.
Also, the time I read this book Russia is invading Ukraine (which was also happening while the book was being written), and so it is easy to see some of the concepts laid forward around articulating justifications, outcasting, sanctions, and more in action currently.
ynbvu's review
3.0
Good enough book that I regret not getting in touch with Scott Schapiro while I could have (plus his Twitter is hilarious). An original and overall convincing argument about the importance of international institution, the state as a political unit, and the shift in the significance of war as a tool to govern states' behavior. The examples, drawn from all times and places in world history, were sweeping, which at times add to the argument, and other times weaken it due to the questionable use of said examples (I'm going to save my comments on the mention of the Republic of Vietnam for a more private forum).
readwithkatie's review against another edition
3.0
Read this for my pubic international law class and it was pretty good. The thesis was really interesting, though the writing style kind of annoyed me and the argued weakened towards the end of the book.
justlcruz's review
5.0
An encapsulating history of the legal basis of war and peace. We take for granted the newness of international law and The Internationalists goes through the development of this legal system we have today and the revolutionary idea to outlaw war. While a world without conflict has not been achieved, outlawry has reduced large scale war.
tonitrap's review
4.0
A concise, well researched, easy to read book on the history and current state of the international legal order regarding nations. The authors' general thesis is that the oft-overlooked Kellog Briand Pact (Paris Peace Pact) marked a significant sea change in the ideas and laws governing the relationship of nations -namely that pre-pact the relationship of nations was defined by the legality of war and post-past defined by the outlawing of war). As someone who has worked in international law and laws governing the prosecution of war crimes for many years, I didn't learn much new, but I found some of the anecdotal, back-room details very interesting. It was also nice to revisit so much of what I have learned in such a highly readable overview. It's a pretty quick and informative read.
mattrohn's review
5.0
This book does does great history, theory work, and contemporary application about international law in regards to war throughout the modern era, centering on the Kellogg-Briand Pact. It's really engaging all the way through and does an amazing job of creating a clear sense of change in the overarching world system in a way that only a very small handful of books I've read have come close to. This would have been an amazing book at any time but is particularly important now given the current administration's efforts, intentional and accidental, to destabilize the liberal international order, quite possibly the most important human achievement of the 20th century