Law and State in the Globalized World

Book excerpt: More than at any other time in history, today, law governs us all. As a result, some level of knowledge of the law is becoming increasingly important at all levels. It is especially useful for students of law, international relations, politics, and social sciences. International professionals as well as civil society organisations also benefit from the basic knowledge of law. In the post-war era, it is not only domestic laws, but also international laws that govern our individual rights, duties, and social interactions, including international relations. This is particularly the case in the fields of peace, security, human rights, international crime, environmental protection, and world trade. Moreover, the demand for harmonisation between domestic and international law has, in many respects, caused international law to become the main source for the creation and development of domestic law. This book offers a comparative perspective on the basic concepts and ideas about law and state. It was created in response to a number demands. It is written in a simple and comprehensive style so that general readers, law students, paralegals, and students from different social science disciplines can, in a straightforward fashion, all understand the legal concepts, legal philosophy, and law-state relationships in the context of globalisation, international cooperation, and the maintaining of the rule of law at the domestic level. This book aims to offer legal knowledge not only to students who are required to study law as an introductory course, but also to general readers on a wider scale. Its treatment is not confined to a particular legal system full of technical jargons, but rather explains general legal principles applicable to different legal systems in a non-technical manner, allowing the reader to understand the basic legal concepts from a general standpoint.