The profession, the public, and international law

In the fall of 1976, Richard R. Baxter, the Manley O. Hudson Professor of International Law at Harvard Law School, gave an address entitled "The Current Science of International Law in the United States Today."1 In a portion of the speech relevant to this symposium,2 Professor Baxter noted that, like many professions, American international lawyers believed they "could play a larger part in public life, or could do more for mankind..., or [could] simply capture somewhat more influence and prestige within society [or the] public arena." The capacity of the profession to do this, Baxter said, depended in part upon its ability to assess honestly its strengths and weaknesses. Among the …