Abstract

The author argues that Bobbio’s philosophy of international relations is inspired by a highly positive conception of pacificism. Bobbio strongly rejects the Catholic notion of “just war” and claims that in the nuclear era war is the antithesis of the right, being as uncontrolled and uncontrollable as an earthquake or a tempest. Nonetheless, according to the author, Bobbio’s “juridical pacifism” still leaves a number of important political and theoretical problems in obscurity. First of all, there is room for doubt as to whether the so-called “domestic analogy,” to which Bobbio expressly alludes, is capable of furnishing the appropriate conceptual means for constructing a theory of international relations. Secondly, it is by no means certain that the concentration of supreme international authority in the hands of a global organization is the best way to construct a more secure international order. Finally, according to the author, we may well doubt whether the United Nations does derive from a universal pact or agreement and is ultimately inspired by democratic principles