Introduction

1.An interactional account： the hard work of international law

2.IR theory and legal obligation

3.Interactional theory and its application

1 An interactional theory of international legal obligation

1.Introduction

2.Fuller's legal theory

3.Fuller and international law

4.Conclusion

2 Shared understandings： the underpinnings of law

1.Introduction

2.Shared understandings in international society：the contribution of IR

3.Shared understandings and interactional law

4.Diversity and power in international society

5.Conclusion

3 Interactional law and compliance：law's hidden power

1.Introduction

2.Interactional obligation and compliance distinguished

3.The role of obligation

4.Promoting compliance： lessons from interactionallaw

5.Conclusion

4 Climate change： building a global legal regime

1.Introduction

2.The global climate regime： key features and evolution

3.Shared understandings

4.Criteria of legality

5.Practice of legality

6.The Copenhagen Accord

7.Conclusion

5 Torture： undermining normative ambition

1.Introduction

2.Shared understandings

3.The prohibition on torture and the criteria of legality

4.Prohibiting torture and the practice of legality

5.Conclusion

6 The use of force： normative ebb and flow

1.Introduction

2.The prohibition on the use of force

3.Exceptions to the prohibition on the use of force

4.Conclusion

Conclusion

1.Shared understandings

2.Adherence to the criteria of legality

3.Continuous practice： the hard work of international law

4.Interactional international law： what we do not claim

5.Implications for international law-makers

Bibliography

Index