Conclusions

It may seem, at first glance, that reciprocity does not hold a particularly important place in contemporary international law as compared to the pre-modern times, when it was regarded as an emanation of justice and a reflection of sovereignty. Currently, sovereignty is often thought to be outdated; the need for the cooperation as well as the concept of common interests have replaced sovereignty and reciprocity. The international order has arguably been developed into a system of law with a solid structure where there is only limited space for reciprocity. Hence, one may be inclined to wonder whether an inquiry into reciprocity in international law, as this edited volume intends, represents a rather skewed or anachronistic choice of topic.