Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2009
Abstract
This Article uses insights from international relations theory to challenge the received wisdom that U.S. courts are incompetent to decide .foreign affairs issues. Since September 11, 2001, in particular, proponents of broad executive power have argued that the Judiciary lacks the Executive's expertise, speed, flexibility, uniformity, and political savvy necessary in foreign affairs. For these reasons, legal doctrine has long called for especially strong foreign affairs deference to the Executive. This Article argues that special deference is grounded in an outmoded version of the popular theory of international relations known as realism. Realism views the world as anarchic, nations as opaque to the outside world, and geopolitics as though a few great powers manage the international system through realpolitik and the balance of power. When incorporated into constitutional.foreign affairs law, these realist tenets lead to a model that prioritizes executive branch competences over_judicial ones, but offers little guidance on how to weigh _foreign affairs effectiveness against other constitutional values such as liberty and accountability.
The Author proposes a new, "hegemonic" model of desired institutional competences in foreign affairs law that takes account of the transformed post-Cold War world. America dominates the globe militarily, has a political system accessible to outsiders, provides public goods for the world, and plays a major role in defining enforceable international law. This American-led order will persist.for some time despite threats posed by terrorism and the rise of powers such as China and Russia. Under the hegemonic model, courts serve America 's .foreign affairs interests by maintaining stable interpretation of the law and bestowing legitimacy on acts of the political branches. Special deference is now unwarranted. This Article concludes by explaining why Boumediene v. Bush and other recent enemy combatant cases are consistent with the hegemonic model.
Recommended Citation
Robert Knowles, American Hegemony and the Foreign Affairs Constitution, 41 Ariz. St. L.J. 87 (2009).
