«Leugner des Völkerrechts»: A History of the Denial of International Law in the 19th Century

Dr. Paul Hahnenkamp BA

doi:10.5771/9783748966012

Summary

The ‘Leugner des Völkerrechts’ (deniers of international law), primarily scholars in the field of law, philosophy, and political science, challenge the legal binding force of international law. In the 19th century, the majority of international law scholars criticize them and designate them as ‘Leugner des Völkerrechts’. The primary critique focuses on their narrow concept of law and of the state, which is based on Hegelian, power political, or chauvinistic justifications. The discourse surrounding the arguments of deniers such as Adolf Lasson, John Austin, and Philipp Zorn consolidates the theoretical fundaments of international law and contributes to the institutionalization of international law scholarship in the 19th century.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright Year: 2026
ISBN-Print: 978-3-7560-3625-7
ISBN-Online: 978-3-7489-6601-2
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Studien zur Geschichte des Völkerrechts
Volume: 47
Language: English
Pages: 351
Product Type: Monograph

1. Preface No access
1. 1. Adolf Lasson and the Principle of International Law No access
2. 2. Leugner des Völkerrechts in Modern Historiography No access
3. 3. Constructing the Discipline from a Negative Perspective No access
1. 1. 1. Context of the Attribution of the Denial of International Law: Interstate Practice and International Law Theory in late 18th Century Europe No access
  2. 2. Historical Story Telling No access
  3. 3. Back to the Origins: Reconstructing a Purported Conflict No access
  4. 4. Conclusion: A Narrative Crumbles No access
2. 1. 1. Is there a General and Universal Law of Nations? No access
  2. 2. You Always Meet Twice No access
  3. 3. No Hierarchy, no Law? No access
  4. 4. Science and Legitimacy No access
  5. 5. Conclusion: A Pleasant Opponent No access
3. 1. 1. A Fictional Law of Nations No access
  2. 2. Decorum Gentium No access
  3. 3. Gustav Hugo – Sample of Ambivalences No access
4. 1. 1. The Foundations of (International) Law No access
  2. 2. A Denier of International Law of his Era No access
  3. 3. A Modern Defender of International Law No access
  4. 4. International Law Scholars Reacting to Kant No access
5. 1. 1. The Individual Character of International Law No access
  2. 2. Late Determined Denier No access
  3. 3. A Blind Spot among Leugner des Völkerrechts No access
6. 1. 1. A State Centered Philosophy of Law No access
  2. 2. International Law Comprehended in Hegelian Thought and Time No access
  3. 3. The Hegelian Prototype of Denial No access
  4. 4. Hegel’s Legacy No access
7. Conclusion Part I No access
1. 1. Chapter VII. International Law Scholarship from 1820 to 1847 No access
2. 1. The Historical Context of Realpolitik No access
3. 2. The Designation of Völkerrechtsleugner in German Scholarship from 1820 to 1847 No access
4. 1. Chapter VIII. The Historical School of Jurisprudence No access
5. 1. The Early Doctrine of Volksgeist No access
6. 2. Christian-European Law of Nations No access
7. 1. Chapter IX. Hegelians in the 1840s No access
8. 1. Material of Sources No access
9. 2. Critique and Perspective No access
10. 3. Hegelian Foundations No access
11. 4. Reasonable Means ‘Civilized’ No access
12. 5. Crossroads: Between Advancement and Denial No access
13. 6. Eduard Gans – The Iteration of Hegel? No access
14. 1. Chapter X. Mainstream Reactions No access
15. 1. Introduction into the Numerous Struggles of Mainstream Scholarship around 1850 No access
16. 2. The Two Faces of Enforcement No access
17. 3. Excessive Sovereignty No access
18. 4. Methodological Weakness No access
19. 1. Chapter XI. Austin and his Challenge to International Law No access
20. 1. The British International Law Scholarship prior to Austin No access
21. 2. Austin’s Positive International Morality No access
22. 1. Conclusion Part II No access
1. 1. 1. The Setting of 1871 No access
  2. 2. Roessler and Lasson No access
  3. 3. Principle and Dystopia of Völkerrecht No access
2. 1. 1. Seydel and Gumplowicz No access
  2. 2. Philipp Zorn’s Äußeres Staatsrecht No access
3. 1. 1. The Concept Leugner des Völkerrechts in the Late 19th Century No access
  2. 2. International Law in the Age of Empires No access
  3. 3. Jellinek’s Self-Binding State No access
  4. 4. Arguments against the Denial of international law No access
  5. 5. The Institutionalized Stigma No access
  6. 6. Conclusion No access
4. Conclusion Part III No access
Summary and Findings No access Pages 309 - 316
1. Deutsche Zusammenfassung No access
2. Register of Sources No access
3. Bibliography No access