THIS BOOK ELABORATES a law and economics–based theoretical under- standing of the structure of the international legal system. The need for such a work is clear. Political science has only recently reengaged with in- ternational law. Economics has not sought to explain international law broadly, although it has made forays into international trade law, while law and economics has only addressed limited aspects of international law. In- ternational legal theory itself has until recently been mired in a stale and equipoised debate between natural law and positive law. Like other legal theory, international legal theory has served more as a statement of posi- tion, or a conclusion, than as.
