The Power of Law

Can the rule of law survive an age of permanent war? From Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the wars in Gaza and Iran, the international order is under unprecedented strain. As governments increasingly disregard international law and human rights, one of the world's leading human rights lawyers asks whether the rule of law can withstand this moment—or whether the law of the strongest will prevail. In The Power of Law, Wolfgang Kaleck argues that international law and universal human rights are more necessary than ever. Drawing on decades of legal practice and activism, he traces how these principles emerged from the devastation of war, examines the forces now threatening to erode them, and proposes reforms that could strengthen international institutions. At once a defense of international law and a call to action, this timely book insists that a more just world remains possible—but only if we are willing to fight for it.