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"It remains a mystery why there has not been a Cambridge Companion to Hugo Grotius to this point. As a format, The Cambridge Companions have a strong tradition in intellectual history, covering numerous political and theological thinkers from - in particular - Europe's past. It was Stephen Neff (Edinburgh University) who first drew attention to the anomaly that Hugo Grotius, one of the most prolific, versatile and influential voices from Europe's intellectual history was still awaiting his 'Cambridge Companion'. He suggested that we, as members of the Grotiana foundation, would take up the task of coordinating this. It was during a nice afternoon at the National Archives at The Hague, that we made the first design for the book. Our proposal, worked out in numerous subsequent conversations, was enthusiastically met by Finola O'Sullivan, law editor at Cambridge University Press, who agreed that Grotius' lasting fame in international law earned him a place in the law list. Nevertheless, the plan to cover the life, thought and work of Grotius in all its breadth, transcending the borderlines of modern discipline, also met with strong approval at the Press. Our special thanks goes to Finola and her dedicated team, among other Marianne Nield, ..."--

Arguing that the concept of an 'international rule of law' has a history independent from that of the national rule of law, this book discusses early modern European thought on natural law and justice and Chinese thought on world order and international law. It provides a unique examination of comparative international legal history and philosophy.