We are pleased to announce the publication of the fourth and final issue in the 30th anniversary volume of Ethics & International Affairs.
This issue includes an essay by Kristy A. Belton on the UN Refugee Agency's global #IBelong Campaign to eradicate statelessness, the first of a two-part series; a feature by Tim Meijers and Marlies Glasius on the expressivist potential of international criminal courts; a book symposium on Allen Buchanan's The Heart of Human Rights, featuring essays by Pietro Maffettone, David Miller, Andrea Sangiovanni, Jesse Tomalty, Lorenzo Zucca, and a response from Allen Buchanan; a review essay by Jennifer C. Rubenstein on the lessons of effective altruism; and book reviews by John Keane, Ruben Reike, Gernot Wagner, Shelley Wilcox, and Kristen P. Williams.
ESSAY Ending Statelessness Through Belonging: A Transformative Agenda? [Excerpt] Kristy A. Belton The subject of belonging conjures up a realm of emotions. This essay explores statelessness through the prism of belonging, asking whether the United Nations Refugee Agency's reframing of statelessness as an issue of belonging can be successful in eradicating statelessness globally.
FEATURE Trials as Messages of Justice: What Should Be Expected of International Criminal Courts? [Excerpt] Tim Meijers and Marlies Glasius After more than a decade of work, the accomplishments of the International Criminal Court are highly contested. In this article, the authors ask, what can and should we expect from international criminal courts? How can international trial and punishment constitute a suitable response to episodes of mass violence?
BOOK SYMPOSIUM: THE HEART OF HUMAN RIGHTS Introduction [Excerpt] The Editors The last few decades have seen a lively philosophical debate surrounding human rights. Allen Buchanan's book The Heart of Human Rights constitutes an important and novel contribution to this debate, focusing on the moral dimensions of international legal human rights (ILHRs) and the institutions responsible for their existence and implementation.
On Constitutional Democracy and Robust International Law [Excerpt] Pietro Maffettone This essay focuses on the tension between robust international law (RIL) and democratic constitutions. Maffettone argues that Buchanan is broadly correct about the nature of the relationship between RIL and constitutional democracy, but that the tension between them runs deeper than his discussion allows us to see.
Human Rights and Status Egalitarianism [Excerpt] David Miller In this essay, Miller throws doubt on Buchanan's claim that to understand the system of international legal human rights we must acknowledge not only their "well-being function" but also a second function that he calls their "status egalitarian function."
Are Moral Rights Necessary for the Justification of International Legal Human Rights? [Excerpt] Andrea Sangiovanni Sangiovanni argues that the existence of an underlying moral right is a necessary part of any successful justification of an ILHR. This underlying moral right need not have precisely the same content as the ILHR it aids in justifying, but it must serve as an essential part of the rationale for the implementation of the ILHR.
Justifying International Legal Human Rights [Excerpt] Jesse Tomalty According to Tomalty, Buchanan's alternative account of the justification of ILHRs is problematic; rejecting the "Mirroring View" does not entail the irrelevance of moral human rights to the justification of the content of ILHRs.
The Fragility of International Human Rights Law [Excerpt] Lorenzo Zucca In this essay, Zucca argues that some philosophers' optimism about international human rights legal practice is misguided. He argues that human rights law is not robust and its practice lacks shape and strength. Further, the gap between ideals and practice is only likely to increase rather than the other way around.
Human Rights: A Plea for Taking the Law and Institutions Seriously [Excerpt] Allen Buchanan Buchanan responds to some of the points made by each of the contributors to the symposium, making his case for taking international laws and institutions seriously and urging scholars to continue this discussion.
REVIEW ESSAY The Lessons of Effective Altruism [Full text] Jennifer C. Rubenstein In this essay, Rubenstein examines two recent books by Peter Singer and William MacAskill on the philosophy and philanthropic movement known as Effective Altruism (EA). She addresses both the promise and limitations of EA—whose proponents seek to do the "most good"—arguing that a "hidden curriculum" underlies its teachings.
REVIEWS On War and Democracy [Full text] Christopher Kutz Review by John Keane There is a fundamental ethical dilemma confronting all democratic states: if they intervene in violence-ridden contexts, then they are readily accused of double standards. On War and Democracy avoids this ethical and political dilemma by beating what could be called a double retreat
Taking Sides in Peacekeeping: Impartiality and the Future of the United Nations [Full text] Emily Paddon Rhoads Review by Ruben Reike The norm of impartiality is pivotal to the United Nations' activities in the areas of conflict resolution, mediation, peacekeeping, humanitarian action, and adjudication. In recent years, however, the organization's principled adherence to impartiality has come under scrutiny.
The Planet Remade: How Geoengineering Could Change the World [Full text] Oliver Morton Review by Gernot Wagner In this book, Morton's central question is whether solar geoengineering ought to be part of society's climate policy portfolio. The author educates, illuminates, and helps the reader connect the dots, but he does not take sides. Instead, he elevates the debate to a new level that acknowledges the enormous trade-offs involved.
Migration in Political Theory: The Ethics of Movement and Membership [Full text] Sarah Fine and Lea Ypi Review by Shelley Wilcox This collection of twelve essays by some of the most distinguished political theorists, philosophers, and legal scholars working on the normative issues surrounding borders and migration addresses a wide range of theoretical and practical topics.
The Hillary Doctrine: Sex & American Foreign Policy [Full text] Valerie M. Hudson and Patricia Leidl Review by Kristen P. Williams Given that much of the political science literature on women, gender, and U.S. foreign policy has primarily examined the legislative branch and public opinion, The Hillary Doctrine's focus on the executive branch is an important and welcome contribution to the international relations field.
