Prologue to a Theory of Non-Treaty Norms

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: ESSAYS ON INTERNATIONAL LAW IN HONOR OF W. MICHAEL RESIMAN, M. Arsanjani, J. Cogan, R. Sloane & S. Wiessner, eds., Brill, 2010

UGA Legal Studies Research Paper No. 09-016

16 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2009 Last revised: 9 Jun 2010

See all articles by Daniel Bodansky

Daniel Bodansky

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: November 1, 2009

Abstract

This short contribution to a festschrift for Professor Michael Reisman addresses the problem of non-treaty norms. In lieu of the traditional categories of custom, general principles, and soft law, the essay proposes an alternative categorization of non-treaty norms, focusing on three variables: first, whether a non-treaty norm is accepted directly or because it satisfies a secondary rule of recognition; second, whether a non-treaty norm is the result of a conscious, purposive process, with identifiable authors, or arises in a more organic, non-purposive way; and third, whether a non-treaty norm reflects a behavioral or discursive regularity. The essay suggests that this categorization provides a more useful starting point to explore the normative and explanatory questions about the origin and influence of non-treaty norms.

Keywords: international law, norms

JEL Classification: K33

Suggested Citation

Bodansky, Daniel, Prologue to a Theory of Non-Treaty Norms (November 1, 2009). LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: ESSAYS ON INTERNATIONAL LAW IN HONOR OF W. MICHAEL RESIMAN, M. Arsanjani, J. Cogan, R. Sloane & S. Wiessner, eds., Brill, 2010, UGA Legal Studies Research Paper No. 09-016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1504173

Daniel Bodansky (Contact Author)

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

111 E Taylor St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
United States

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