Small Powers, International Organizations and the Role of Law: Jorge Castañeda’s Views from Mexico

Abstract This article examines the work of Mexican diplomat and jurist Jorge Castañeda as an insight into trajectory international legal thought in semi-periphery on organizations. It argues that adopted a distinct approach to organizations law foregrounds power asymmetries. The considers three interventions made by express this semi-peripheral have lasting relevance. First, it shows how, focusing interests small powers, Castañeda’s 1950s departed from functionalist optimism stressed tension between rule domestic rule, emphasizing centrality reserved domain drawing lessons for strategic engagement powers. Second, studies how concern cause powers shaped his views regionalism, grounding critique Pan-Americanism vindication United Nations (UN) attenuate perils regionalism. Third, retrieves defence UN General Assembly platform law-making, contextualizes within rise decolonization explores implications earlier sceptical about expansion concludes highlighting significance jurists any efforts aimed at re-theorizing