International Legal Theory and the Cognitive Turn

Abstract Significant changes in social sciences often herald changes in legal theory, including in international legal theory. In light of the cognitive turn in social sciences, this volume seeks to explore the implications of this ‘turn’ for international legal theories. Cognitive and behavioural studies are making inroads into international law literature and international policy-making, yet their implications for international legal theory remain under-explored. The book aims to fill this gap by systematically analysing if, to what extent, and how insights gained from cognitive-behavioural sciences influence the principal theoretical approaches to international law. The chapters indicate that while insights drawn from cognitive and behavioural literature often underlie or complement some international legal theories, interactions between some legal theories and cognitive-behavioural studies are characterized by tensions. Exploring the implicit and explicit cognitive-behavioural assumptions of international legal theories has the potential to build bridges between these fields.