Essential elements :introduction
Thoughts on the impact of theory on international law
Important elements in the making of theory
Adumbrations of the theoretical adventure
Traceability of antecedents to current scholarship
Regional and national traditions
Self-referential international law and the compelling need to also listen to other's voices
Concluding remarks
Enduring and new schools, movements and trends : introduction
Basic orientations
Other approaches
Universal, plural, relative
Further explorations
Sociological aspects of international law theories
Concluding remarks 261
Where is the international community or society?
Ontological and post-ontological discourses
General (or grand) theories of international law and general international law
Legal basis of international obligations
Legitimacy
Compliance
Unity and universality
Fragmentation
The issue of jurisdiction and competence
Fictions: international law possibly contains the most ficticious norms than any other legal system
Hegemonic power and unilateralism
The international dimension of the rule of law
Normativity forming an integral part of international law
Concluding remarks
The "users" of international law : moving beyond doctrinal controversies on "subjects", non-state actors" and "participants"
The state
International organizations
"Individuals" and other private persons
Law-making
Expanding the products and modes of fabrication
Relationship between norms
Interpretation
Concluding remarks
Interrogations and expectations
A skeleton meeting of minds
Concluding remarks
Final conclusions : the choristers' performances.