International Court Authority (Broché)

Identifying the "varied authority" of international adjudicators as a common object of inquiry, the editors first develop a framework to conceptualize and measure international court authority and compile a list of contextual factors that plausibly explain why similarly designed international courts have attained different levels of political and legal influence. This volume then brings together interdisciplinary commentaries by a stellar group of theorists and scholars who collectively reflect on what the framework and findings suggest for the legitimacy and authority of international institutions writ large.
Focusing on both global and regional adjudicatory systems, contributors explain the variations and fragility of each court's authority over time and across the breadth of their jurisdiction. Chapters explore plausible explanations for why the authority of international courts varies across time, issue-area, member states, or audiences, and span areas including human rights, regional integration, international trade and economic law, harmonized commercial law, and international criminal law.
This authoritative text will significantly advance debates about the legitimacy and authority of international judicial institutions and related adjudicatory and dispute settlement mechanisms. It will therefore appeal to legal scholars, political scientists, philosophers, sociologists, international and domestic judges, government officials, and practicing lawyers as well as others involved with international courts.