Emergency Powers of International Organizations

A very important book that offers original insights into the uses and abuses of emergency powers by international organizations, it is a must-read for anyone interested in the normative dilemmas of global governance, with illuminating cases studies to illustrate the 'ratchets' and 'rollbacks' involved in the rhetorical legitimation struggles of governors and the governed alike. * Vivien Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration, Boston University * While the dangers of emergency powers have long been observed for national states at war, recent actions of international organizations have raised this worry to a new level. Examining the responses of the UN, the EU, and the WHO to recent crises, Christian Kreuder-Sonnen shows how emergency powers have either been normalized or have been subject to constitution-like checks, with implications for both international relations and domestic politics. This important book marks a new stage in the development of the theory and practice of global governance. * Sidney G. Tarrow, Emeritus Maxwell Upson Professor of Government, Cornell University * The authority of international institutions is bounded by laws and rules much like national governments are bounded by constitutions. And just like governments, international institutions often claim that extreme circumstances sometimes require going beyond those limits, and giving legal justification for what otherwise would be extra-legal action. This path-breaking book is the first to examine emergency powers of international organizations. At once practical, theoretical, and comparative, it opens a new branch of research in global governance by considering how political demands overwhelm legal constraints and become normalized in law. Pairing ratchet and rollback effects, Kreuder-Sonnen provides a strikingly original perspective on the law and politics of global governance. The book is sure to motivate a new generation of scholars on the dynamics between legalization and politics. * Ian Hurd, Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University *