國際法的性質及作用：批判國際法學的反思

從哈佛大學甘迺迪教授的一本新著切入，通過比較批判國際法學、實在國際法學和政策定向學，我們得以對“國際法的性質及作用”這一國際法學研究的基礎性問題進行深切反思。國際法與政治密不可分，國際法存在不確定性。在國際鬥爭中，國際法是國際行為者自我解釋或自我辯護的法律，解釋者的立場和權力決定解釋的結果及其有效性。國際法主要是實踐問題，運用國際法的能力十分重要，國際法的語言和形式對於強者和弱者都有實踐價值，形式的國際法對於維繫國際行為者之間和平共存不可或缺。有必要堅持國際法學科自信，解放思想，不斷釋放思想潛能。思考是中國國際法學前進的動力。

The article draws its inspiration from David Kennedy’s A World of Struggle and reflects on the basic tenets and methods of critical international law. By comparing critical international law with positive international law and policy-oriented jurisprudence, the article aims to generate among Chinese international lawyers thorough reflections on the nature and function of international law, as well as the status quo of and future paths for international legal studies in China. International law is deeply intertwined with politics and indeterminacy is an inherent feature of international law. In international struggles international law is an instrument deployed for auto-interpretation and self-justification, the outcome and effectiveness of which largely shaped by power and preferences of the interpreter. As a practical knowledge, the relevance of international law is translated into one’s capability to utilize it. International law as both form and language bears practical value to the strong and the weak alike, instrumental to the co-existence of competing international actors. It is important for Chinese scholars to be open-minded and intellectually confident to embrace diverse approaches of legal thinking.