This book investigates the legitimacy and theoretical implications of an emerging international legal norm that promotes democratic governance across sovereign states. Susan Marks, a scholar of international law, utilizes a critical legal studies framework to deconstruct the assumptions underlying the global push for democracy. She argues that international law often operates through ideological structures that obscure the complexities of political self-determination and the diverse interpretations of democratic practice.

Experts in international law frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of legal theory and political ideology. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in legal philosophy to fully grasp the author's nuanced arguments.