This book investigates whether the trend toward 'constitutionalizing' international law is the most effective path for global governance or if a pluralist framework offers a more viable alternative. Nico Krisch, a professor of international law, challenges the prevailing academic consensus that seeks to impose a unified constitutional structure on international legal orders. He argues that a pluralist model, which acknowledges the coexistence of multiple, overlapping legal systems without a single hierarchy, better reflects the reality of postnational politics and provides a more flexible mechanism for managing conflict between diverse legal regimes.

Legal scholars and practitioners frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the limitations of constitutionalist approaches in international law. Experts often highlight the author's rigorous analytical framework as a necessary counterpoint to traditional institutionalist perspectives in the field.