This book investigates the legitimacy and ideological implications of the emerging international legal norm of democratic governance. Susan Marks, a scholar of international law, utilizes a critical legal studies framework to analyze how international institutions define and promote democracy. She argues that current approaches often overlook the power dynamics and structural biases inherent in these legal norms, proposing instead a method of ideology critique to expose and reframe these underlying assumptions.

Legal scholars and political theorists frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the critical approach to international law. Experts highlight the text for its rigorous intellectual depth and its significant contribution to the discourse on democratic legitimacy in global institutions.