International Law in Russian Textbooks: What’s in the Doctrinal Pluralism?

This review essay examines four leading Russian textbooks of public international law. It is noteworthy that doctrinal pluralism has been established in the international law doctrine as represented by the Russian scholars. One particular doctrinal question of heavy symbolic significance – whether individuals have become subjects of international law beside states – is examined. It turns out that different answers given to that question in the scholarship are linked with a general attitude towards the Soviet legacy.