Abstract:

Through combing the history of the theory and practice of international law dominated by the Western world, British historian Perry Anderson not only elucidates how a certain “civilization” as a factual concept defines the meaning of “civilization” as a value concept, but also reveals the peculiar blend of the “reasonable” and the “unreasonable” in uncovering the dialectics of civilization and barbarism. It is only with a keen sensitivity to both the speaker’s and the listener’s contexts within the narrative that we can extract the maximum benefit from such an “Anderson narrative.” This accomplishment can subsequently aid in seizing the historical opportunity for establishing a new civilization for mankind.

Key words: international law, civilization, reasonable, study, critique, context