The Development of the Italian Doctrine in the Words of Antonio Cassese

The present review essay discusses Antonio Cassese’s book Il diritto internazionale in Italia, which was written in the late 1980s and saw the light only in 2021. Each part of this short and very dense volume contains and triggers significant reflections on various topics that are still extremely relevant to this day, and perhaps now more than ever. The starting point of Professor Cassese’s inquiry is a straightforward question: how is the work of the Italian international lawyers perceived abroad? More in detail, he wonders if and to what extent it is true that the Italian doctrine, which is characterized by unparalleled scientific rigor and in-depth theoretical disquisitions, pays scant or no attention to practical problems and political, economic, and social implications at large. Professor Cassese’s analysis revolves around this initial question but at the same time departs from it in order to offer a wider and extremely accurate overview of its ramifications. In particular, Antonio Cassese helps the reader to better understand the role of international lawyers and the tools at their disposal to contribute to enhancing the society they live and operate in.