Eurocentrism to Global Multilateralism: Empirical Literature Review of the Metamorphosis of Modern International Law

Abstract

The development of international law was a long standing historical process which was influenced mainly by European intellectual traditions, political interests and expansions of empires. The principles of sovereignty, territoriality, diplomacy and state behavior have been determined since centuries in a perspective of European powers which enjoyed a disproportionate power in the international matters. The period after 1945 has however ushered in fundamental developments such as decolonisation, increasing global interdependence, and the expansion of international institutions brought a more inclusive multilateral order. This article is an empirical literature based evaluation of the effect of the move to a Eurocentric to a multilateral international system on the evolution of the contemporary international law. The work based on the contributions of the academic literature, assesses the transformation of the law making processes, human rights norms, trade regimes, dispute settlement structures and customary international law. The review concludes that modern international law has become much more universal, participatory, and normatively varied but still structural imbalances based on the fact that Eurocentrism are present. The change, thus, is indeed significant yet not final, it represents a changing legal order of the world, instead of complete eradication of inequalities of the past.