Race, hierarchy and international law: Lorimer's legal science

Abstract

The international lawyers of the late 19th century - the 'Gentle Civilizers' - had no doubt about the superiority of European culture over alternative ways of life and regularly supported the imperial ventures of their countries. While most of them were liberals of one or another sort, the Scotsman James Lorimer espoused an openly racist ideology. This article examines Lorimer's hierarchical view of human communities as an indispensable aspect of his international law.