Pustaka Ilmiah Universitas Padjadjaran

Abstrak

Book Review: Stephane Beaulac, The Power Of Language In The Making Of International Law

This book generally is about role of language and how it establishes and develops international law. The writer used linguistic approach to describe philosophy and its intellectual context which is the unique side of the book. When usually other writers explain the making of international law from political or philosophical approach, the writer explains it from linguistic approach when we do not fully realize that language plays an important role and has a powerful effect in the making of international law. This book specially explains the term of ‘sovereignty’ as one of powerful words which has strong existence in the making of international law. James Crawford wrote ‘the term of sovereignty has a long and troubled history and variety of meanings.’ Furthermore it has ascertainable meanings and it keeps transforming. The word ‘sovereignty’ has its own history which contains a history of social effects of its changing meaning. The writer also describes about several concepts of sovereignty based on some experts such as Jean Bodin and Vattel. Bodin used ‘sovereignty’ for particular purpose, namely, to place the ruler at the apex of a pyramid of authority and Vattel utilized and change the word `sovereignty’ for a particular purpose, namely, to attempt the externalization of the ‘highest unified power’ by providing for the exclusivity of authority without as well as within.