Perceptions of State: The US State Department and International Law

by Philip Moremen

Overview

Why, and to what extent, are states more or less likely to comply with international law? No overarching state compels compliance, and the international institutional context is thin, yet states seem largely to comply. How do we explain this behaviour? Developed through interviews with eighty State Department senior officials from across five recent administrations, Philip Moremen provides a qualitatively and quantitatively rich study of the extent to which and under what conditions the United States and other countries comply with international law. US policymakers consider legal issues, national interest, and other factors together when making decisions-law is not always dispositive. Nevertheless, international law constrains states. In State Department policymaking there is a strong culture of respect for international law, and lawyers play a highly influential role. In this context, the book concludes by investigating the effect of the Trump Administration on the culture and processes of the State Department.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108835152
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/27/2024
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Philip Moremen is Chair and Associate Professor at Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy and International Relations. He is also an Honorary Vice-President of the American Branch of the International Law Association and has been published in several US-based international law journals.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Background literature; 3. State compliance with International Law; 4. Compliance by the United States; 5. The role of International Law in state department policymaking; 6. The Trump Administration and International Law in the state department; 7. Conclusion; Appendices; Index.