Introduction 1. Peace 2. War 3. Wilson 4. Roosevelt 5. "Big White Space" 6. "Pacta Sunt Servanda!" 7. A Normless Normalcy? Notes Index
Since we live in a period of presidents capable of invading small, weak nations without warrant in our own Constitution or international law, Senator Moynihan's book could not be more necessary and timely. It is a cry of alarm--but a cry that is deeply reasoned, informed by our finest traditions and imbued with moral fervor. We might have to go back to John Quincy Adams to find another member of Congress capable of such a work. -- Theodore Draper
Daniel Patrick Moynihan was the author of numerous books, including On the Law of Nations, and coeditor (with Nathan Glazer) of Ethnicity, both from Harvard.
In this erudite yet immensely readable brief history of American
internationalism in the twentieth century, with its far-ranging and
provocative discourses on the issues to which that internationalism
has given rise, [Moynihan] deplores [the] trends against which
Wilson warned… He takes the long view; he converses on easy terms,
across the centuries, with the great thinkers of the past; and his
discourse is informed by an exalted sense of what it is to be an
American.
*Washington Post Book World*
An elegant and persuasive history-cum-argument about international
law… [It] is not only a forceful elucidation of the subject; it is
a cri de tête of a man who often sees things more accurately than
others.
*New York Times Book Review*
On the Law of Nations is thoughtful and timely, even as Moynihan
himself is the refutation of the claim that the United States
produces no politicians capable of expressing original thought in
their own unghosted words.
*Los Angeles Times Book Review*
Leave it to the senior senator from New York, whose career has been
one long and exhilarating assault on conventional wisdom, to bring
order to the chaos with an old but still provocative idea: let
there be law… In this richly textured, idiosyncratically written
(no ghostwriters here), but compelling book, Senator Moynihan
argues that international law, often regarded as our century’s
answer to alchemy, is in fact a powerful tool for stability and
justice.
*Washington Monthly*
An impassioned and well-reasoned plea for a return to the rule of
international law… Sure to raise hackles—and hopes—in D.C. and
beyond.
*Kirkus Reviews*
Since we live in a period of presidents capable of invading small,
weak nations without warrant in our own Constitution or
international law, Senator Moynihan’s book could not be more
necessary and timely. It is a cry of alarm—but a cry that is deeply
reasoned, informed by our finest traditions and imbued with moral
fervor. We might have to go back to John Quincy Adams to find
another member of Congress capable of such a work.
*Theodore Draper*
‘Introducing international law into discussion,’ writes Pat
Moynihan, ‘almost invariably sets off a reaction.’ This book is no
exception. It is a learned, witty, and politically savvy defense of
the subject, and an important contribution to thinking about the
post–Cold War world.
*Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Center for Science and International Affairs,
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University*
The book will have a notable and useful impact in the continuing
debate over the role of morality, law, and organization in American
foreign policy and what we stand for in the world. It is a pleasure
to read for wit and passion; it gilds the philosophic pill and
makes erudition seem fun… To those watching the general collapse of
Communist ideology and feeling privileged to be present at yet
another creation, it is a cautionary tale warning against the
excessive optimism of naive moralisms and the naiveté of
self-proclaimed ‘realists’ whose ignorance has cost us too much
already.
*Alfred Rubin, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts
University*
In this erudite yet immensely readable brief history of American
internationalism in the twentieth century, with its far-ranging and
provocative discourses on the issues to which that internationalism
has given rise, [Moynihan] deplores [the] trends against which
Wilson warned... He takes the long view; he converses on easy
terms, across the centuries, with the great thinkers of the past;
and his discourse is informed by an exalted sense of what it is to
be an American. -- David Fromkin * Washington Post Book World *
An elegant and persuasive history-cum-argument about
international law... [It] is not only a forceful elucidation of the
subject; it is a cri de tete of a man who often sees things
more accurately than others. -- Roger Rosenblatt * New York Times
Book Review *
On the Law of Nations is thoughtful and timely, even as
Moynihan himself is the refutation of the claim that the United
States produces no politicians capable of expressing original
thought in their own unghosted words. -- Jack Miles * Los Angeles
Times Book Review *
Leave it to the senior senator from New York, whose career has been
one long and exhilarating assault on conventional wisdom, to bring
order to the chaos with an old but still provocative idea: let
there be law... In this richly textured, idiosyncratically written
(no ghostwriters here), but compelling book, Senator Moynihan
argues that international law, often regarded as our century's
answer to alchemy, is in fact a powerful tool for stability and
justice. * Washington Monthly *
An impassioned and well-reasoned plea for a return to the rule of
international law... Sure to raise hackles-and hopes-in D.C. and
beyond. * Kirkus Reviews *
Since we live in a period of presidents capable of invading small,
weak nations without warrant in our own Constitution or
international law, Senator Moynihan's book could not be more
necessary and timely. It is a cry of alarm-but a cry that is deeply
reasoned, informed by our finest traditions and imbued with moral
fervor. We might have to go back to John Quincy Adams to find
another member of Congress capable of such a work. -- Theodore
Draper
'Introducing international law into discussion,' writes Pat
Moynihan, 'almost invariably sets off a reaction.' This book is no
exception. It is a learned, witty, and politically savvy defense of
the subject, and an important contribution to thinking about the
post-Cold War world. -- Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Center for Science and
International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University
The book will have a notable and useful impact in the continuing
debate over the role of morality, law, and organization in American
foreign policy and what we stand for in the world. It is a pleasure
to read for wit and passion; it gilds the philosophic pill and
makes erudition seem fun... To those watching the general collapse
of Communist ideology and feeling privileged to be present at yet
another creation, it is a cautionary tale warning against the
excessive optimism of naive moralisms and the naivete of
self-proclaimed 'realists' whose ignorance has cost us too much
already. -- Alfred Rubin, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy,
Tufts University
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