Some thoughts about the optimistic pessimism of a good international lawyer

Abstract

The author presents various critical comments on several developments of international law in fields which have been particularly studied and practised by Antonio Cassese. Some final reflections focus on the question whether international lawyers can realistically cherish feelings of optimism as to the development of international law in a humane direction, or whether instead the study of the past and the present ought not rather to impel one towards disillusioned pessimism. © EJIL 2010; all rights reserved.