The 2023 ESIL Monograph Prize was awarded in September 2023 during the 18th ESIL Annual Conference in Aix-en-Provence to Frederick Cowell for his book Defensive Relativism The Use of Cultural Relativism in International Legal Practice  (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2022).

Jury’s report

The Jury had the difficult task of selecting one among several books of excellent academic quality. It unanimously identified Defensive Relativism as the best monograph due to the author’s ability to shed new light on a widely discussed topic. The merit of this insightful and thought-provoking book is that it brings to the old dichotomy of “universalism” and “cultural relativism” of human rights a novel approach, which is analytical rather than ideological. Being based on State practice, the book offers a realistic picture of the difficult issue, systematizing the different ways in which States strive to infuse flexibility linked to cultural relativism in international human rights law, and the ends they pursue. In a context where the balance between the ‘global’ and the ‘local’ is delicate and constantly shifting, the book’s select, yet compelling analysis of relevant State practice and of its underlying rationale will help scholars and practitioners alike to appraise more fully defensive relativism – which the author views as ‘a natural consequence of having a regime of universal human rights’ – and possibly to avert its most negative consequences.

The Jury also identified a runner up, Hitoshi Nasu, The Concept of Security in International Law, West Point Press, 2022, which offers a comprehensive and well-balanced analysis of an extremely complex topic.

The recording of the conversation with the winners of the 2023 ESIL Monograph Prize and ESIL Collaborative Book Prize, held during the 2023 ESIL Annual Conference, is available here.