1 Introduction 1
Ⅰ. The roots of a postmodern anxiety 4
Ⅱ. From too little to too much law: mapping the fragmentation debate 8
Ⅲ. Towards an exploratory philosophy of unity 14
Ⅳ. Outline of the book 17
Ⅴ. Some caveats and clarifications 19
2 Of Unity， Perspective and Perception: An Ontological Preamble 21
Ⅰ. From the simple to the complex: elementary unity and unity by composition 23
Ⅱ. In flesh and ideas: unity as interpretation 25
Ⅲ. Multi-causational unity 27
Ⅳ. Unity and the laws of perspective 29
Ⅴ. Intermediate conclusions: unity， choice and ruse 30
3 Unity， Unification， Universality: A Terminological Disambiguation 32
Ⅰ. Unity and unification 32
Ⅱ. Unity and universality 34
A. Two basic conceptions of universality 35
B. Fragmentary universality 36
C. Conflicts of universals 38
Ⅲ. Intermediate conclusions - complexity on the global marketplace of law: the MOX Plant Dispute 38
4 Material Unity 46
Ⅰ. The ‘no conflict’ theory of unity 47
Ⅱ. The definition of ‘norm conflict’ in theory and practice 50
A. Stricto sensu conflicts 52
B. Medio sensu conflicts 57
C. Lato sensu conflicts 60
Ⅲ. Intermediate conclusions 66
5 Formal Unity 69
Ⅰ. Three conceptions of the legal order 70
A. The institutionalist approach 71
B. The normativist approach 73
(i) Kelsen 73
(ii) Hart 74
C. The post-normativist approach 76
(i) Raz 76
(ii) Dworkin 78
D. Conventional discourses on formal unity: two forms of reductionism 80
Ⅱ. Taking Hart seriously: secondary rules， determinacy and acceptance 83
A. The determinacy of secondary rules 85
B. The unified and general acceptance of secondary rules 87
C. Two unexplored conditions 89
Ⅲ. Issues of determinacy: questioning the sources of international law 91
Ⅳ. Issues of acceptance: the International Islamic Court of Justice and the Shari’a as the ultimate rule of recognition 106
A. International law， modernity and secularism 108
B. Precarious man， postmodernity and the resurgence of religion 112
C. The resurgence of religion and international law: the OIC and the IICJ 115
Ⅴ. Intermediate conclusions 125
6 Cultural Unity 129
Ⅰ. International law as an intellectual and professional discipline 130
Ⅱ. The concept of legal culture 135
Ⅲ. The unity of international law as a cultural system 140
A. International law as a mental universe: esprit de corps and collective consciousness 141
B. International law as a discursive formation: syntax and grammar 148
C. Static and dialectical unity: folded international law 154
Ⅳ. Intermediate conclusions: the invisible hand of legal culture 159
7 Logical Unity 161
Ⅰ. Epistemo-logical unity: Ah! In the hypothesis! 161
A. Hermeneutic presumption， entitlement and constraint 162
B. Kantian critique and unity as a regulative principle 166
C. Rechtswissenschaft and the development of a ‘scientific’jurisprudence 169
D. Intermediate conclusion 173
Ⅱ. Axio-logical unity 175
A. Substantive and formal values 180
B. Individual and collective values 181
C. Patrimonial and programmatic values 183
D. Axiology of orientation and axiology of validation: super-determination ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ 184
Ⅲ. Intermediate conclusions: the hesitant fettering of the thousand necks 188
8 General Conclusion: Unitas Multiplex 191
Ⅰ. Changing lenses: Tadic revisited 194
Ⅱ. Territorial battles and merchants of unity 201
Index 213