The Riddle of All Constitutions

Review from previous edition Susan Marks has written a brilliantly provocative and sophisticated book giving a strikingly original and far-reaching slant to her analysis. The Riddle of All Constitutions provides an excellent critique of mainstream proposals about how to bring the pursuit of democracy into the thinking and interpretations of international law. * The American Journal of International Law Vol. 96, No. 1, January 2002 *
The particular virtue of this text is that it grapples with the question of the ultimate purpose of international law. ... Susan Marks ... has produced a clear, well argued text that draws upon a wide range of sources; this is a volume that deserves to attract a wide audience. ... those students fearing an examination question on the meaning and purpose of international law will be in a better position if they have spent some time reading this thought-provoking work. ... All can benefit from reading this timely and stimulating text. * Law Update 2001 *
Susan Marks presents a trenchant review of the arguments concerning the emergence of a "norm of democratic governance"...Marks' critique of contemporary writing is exceptionally clear and elegant...it is a sheer delight to read the work of a scholar who approaches her material with humility and a simple determination to engage with it and with her readers. For that alone this book would deserve the highest praise, as a substantial and significant contribution to the contemporary debate. But it also makes a substantial contribution to the literature...there can be no doubt that this book has moved the debate along considerably, and in great style. * Vaughan Lowe, Journal of Law and Society Vol. 27, No.4, 2000. *