Martti Koskenniemi
Encyclopedia
Martti Antero Koskenniemi (born 1953) is an international lawyer and a former Finnish diplomat
. Currently he is professor of International Law in the University of Helsinki
and Director of the Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights. He is well known for his critical
approach to international law
. In 2008 - 2009 he held the seat of distinguished visiting Goodhart Professor at the Faculty of Law, Cambridge University. In 2011 Koskenniemi was Peace of Utrecht professor at Utrecht University.
Previously he has been Global Professor of Law in the New York University
, and a member of the International Law Commission
(2002–2006). He served in the Finnish Diplomatic Service
in the years 1978-1996, lastly as director of the Division of International Law. He was Finland's counsel in the International Court of Justice
in the Passage through the Great Belt case (Finland v. Denmark) (1991-2) http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/icases/ifd/ifdframe.htm.
In 1997 to 2003 he served as a judge in the administrative tribunal of the Asian Development Bank
.
He is a member of the Institut de droit international
.
. It asserts that international law is vulnerable to criticisms of being either an irrelevant moralist utopia
or an apology to Realpolitik
.
The Gentle Civilizer of Nations: The Rise and Fall of International Law 1870-1960 (2001) has two agendas, first of which is to develop an intellectual history of international law, and to offer a critique of that history. The second is to offer a sociology of the profession of international law, using biographical studies of Hersch Lauterpacht
, Carl Schmitt
and Hans Morgenthau
.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. Currently he is professor of International Law in the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
and Director of the Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights. He is well known for his critical
Critical legal studies
Critical legal studies is a movement in legal thought that applied methods similar to those of critical theory to law. The abbreviations "CLS" and "Crit" are sometimes used to refer to the movement and its adherents....
approach to international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. In 2008 - 2009 he held the seat of distinguished visiting Goodhart Professor at the Faculty of Law, Cambridge University. In 2011 Koskenniemi was Peace of Utrecht professor at Utrecht University.
Previously he has been Global Professor of Law in the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and a member of the International Law Commission
International Law Commission
The International Law Commission was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 for the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification."It holds an annual session at the United Nations Office at Geneva....
(2002–2006). He served in the Finnish Diplomatic Service
Diplomatic service
Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries...
in the years 1978-1996, lastly as director of the Division of International Law. He was Finland's counsel in the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
in the Passage through the Great Belt case (Finland v. Denmark) (1991-2) http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/icases/ifd/ifdframe.htm.
In 1997 to 2003 he served as a judge in the administrative tribunal of the Asian Development Bank
Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
.
He is a member of the Institut de droit international
Institut de droit international
The Institut de droit international is an organization devoted to the study and development of international law, whose membership comprises the world's leading public international lawyers...
.
Writings
From Apology to Utopia; The Structure of International Legal Argument (first published 1989) presents a critical view of international law as an argumentative practice that attempts to remove the political from international relationsInternational relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. It asserts that international law is vulnerable to criticisms of being either an irrelevant moralist utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
or an apology to Realpolitik
Realpolitik
Realpolitik refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on power and on practical and material factors and considerations, rather than ideological notions or moralistic or ethical premises...
.
The Gentle Civilizer of Nations: The Rise and Fall of International Law 1870-1960 (2001) has two agendas, first of which is to develop an intellectual history of international law, and to offer a critique of that history. The second is to offer a sociology of the profession of international law, using biographical studies of Hersch Lauterpacht
Hersch Lauterpacht
Sir Hersch Lauterpacht was a member of the United Nations' International Law Commission from 1952 to 1954 and a Judge of the International Court of Justice from 1955 to 1960. In the words of former ICJ President Stephen M...
, Carl Schmitt
Carl Schmitt
Carl Schmitt was a German jurist, philosopher, political theorist, and professor of law.Schmitt published several essays, influential in the 20th century and beyond, on the mentalities that surround the effective wielding of political power...
and Hans Morgenthau
Hans Morgenthau
Hans Joachim Morgenthau was one of the leading twentieth-century figures in the study of international politics...
.
External links
- Kenneth Anderson's Blog: Martti Koskenniemi (Theory)
- Talks and Papers on Erik Castren Institute website
- Online Articles on Erik Castren Institute website
- Iraq and the "Bush Doctrine" of Pre-Emptive Self-Defence. An analysis by Martti Koskenniemi, Crimes of War Project.
- http://www.germanlawjournal.com/past_issues_archive.php?show=12&volume=7Special issue of the German Law JournalGerman Law JournalThe German Law Journal is a peer-reviewed, online-only open access law journal reporting on the developments in German, European and international jurisprudence....
marking the re-publication of "From Apology to Utopia"] - http://www.bepress.com/gj/vol10/iss2/art4/ article on Martti Koskenniemi's scholarly work