Behavioral International Law

86 Pages Posted: 5 Sep 2013 Last revised: 14 Apr 2015

See all articles by Tomer Broude

Tomer Broude

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - International Law Forum

Date Written: September 18, 2013

Abstract

This article systematically explores the application of insights from behavioral economics to international legal issues. Economic analysis has in recent years made significant inroads into the study of international law, but most of this literature relies upon assumptions of perfect rationality of states and decision-makers. This approach is inadequate, both in its insufficient empirical grounding and in its question-begging tendency towards often unsophisticated and outdated forms of ‘Realist’ international relations theory. A behavioral approach would augment legal research by providing new hypotheses to address puzzles in international law while at the same time introducing empirically grounded concepts of real, observed bounded’ rationality, which diverge from the assumed, perfect rationality of traditional law and economics. The article addresses some possible methodological objections to the application of behavioral analysis to international law, namely: the focus of behavioral analysis on the individual; the empirical foundations of behavioral economics; and behavioral analysis’ relative lack of parsimony. It then offers indicative behavioral research frameworks for three outstanding puzzles in international law: (a) the relative inefficiency of the development of international law; (b) collegiality and dissent in international tribunals; and (c) target selection in armed conflict. Behavioral research of international law can serve as a viable and enriching alternative and complement to economic analysis and other theoretical approaches to international legal research, so long as it is pursued with academic and empirical rigor as well as intellectual humility.

Keywords: International law, behavioral economics, cognitive biases, proportionality, treaties, dissent, WTO

Suggested Citation

Broude, Tomer, Behavioral International Law (September 18, 2013). 163 University of Pennsylvania Law Review (2015 Forthcoming), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2320375 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2320375

Tomer Broude (Contact Author)

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - International Law Forum ( email )

Mount Scopus
Mount Scopus, IL 91905
Israel

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