Foucauldian Approach to International Law

Leonard Hammer is Senior Lecturer at Zefat College, Israel. He holds the following qualifications: JD from Georgetown University, LLM from NYU, and PhD from University of London (SOAS). Dr Hammer has published books and articles in the area of international law and international human rights, including the 2001 book The International Human Right to Freedom of Conscience (Ashgate). He has received a number of research grants and fellowships and is currently involved in a long-term project concerning holy places as well as developing programmes for Zefat Law School.

• Contents: Introduction; Theoretical grounds for international law; Recognition, transformation, and power; Transgressing problems of customary international law; A descriptive moment for freedom of religion or belief; Human security from a transformative context; Non-governmental organisations and power; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

'This book presents an innovative and interesting approach to international law. It addresses some fundamental issues and problems within international law, offering a fresh perspective on state power via the ideas of Foucault. It should serve as the means for deepening our understanding of the international legal framework.' Ruth Lapidoth, Hebrew University, Israel and Recipient of the 2006 Israel Prize in Law 'For those who are unravelling the intricacies of international law, it will serve them well to consider Leonard M. Hammer's well-researched book...Anyone dealing with international law and politics should consider contemplating the ideas and reflections on Foucault that Hammer has presented in this book.' Law and Politics Book Review 'This work urges a de-coupling of international law from the traditional Westphalian notions of state sovereignty, allowing for the interaction and influence of actors above and below the state level. By doing so, the author makes an important contribution to the discussion of a more accommodating framework of international law and international relations. He argues convincingly for a transgressive framework, suggesting that the focus should be on the fluidity emanating from on-going discourse rather than on a more static outcome-based apporoach.' Singapore Yearbook of International Law 'Prozorov's text gives us a resonant reading of the constituent possibilities of freedom in Foucault's work.' The Leiden Journal of International Law