Periodisation of International Law: Positivist Discourse and Beyond

Abstract

Although the international law itself has changed over time, the definition of international law by the positivist discourse used as a means to understand it remains constant. From this paradigm, which conceptualizes itself historically rootless in one sense and detaches itself from its current periodic ties, it is very difficult to construct an explanatory narrative about the forms of international law. For this purpose the study firstly investigates the elements of the classical definition of international law in a socio-historical context. Secondly, it will propose a starting date and a periodicization style for the work area defined as international law. Lastly in this study the periodization of international law in its modern history will be evaluated.

Keywords

International Law, Positivism, Political Economy, Imperialism

Citation

Demirli, Aynur and Özdemir, Ali Murat, “Periodisation of International Law: Positivist Discourse and Beyond”, International Relations, Volume 16, Issue 63, 2019, pp. 51-67, DOI: 10.33458/uidergisi.621306

Affiliations

• Aynur DEMİRLİ, Research Assistant, Department of Public Law, Hacettepe University
• Ali Murat ÖZDEMİR, Prof. Dr., Department of Public Law, Hacettepe University