Transnationalism and popular sovereignty

Abstract

A truly Kantian international peace cannot be achieved without equality among peoples. I propose some conceptual preconditions useful for a Kantian-inspired theory of transnational right that could counter the asymmetries of power among states and between lees powerful states and supranational organizations and economic actors. I first analyse some features of Kant´s conception of sovereignty and of the systematic unity of public Right as composed of ius civitatis, ius gentium, and ius cosmopoliticum, to hold that sovereign equality understood as a normative principle for international Right is implied by the normative principle of popular sovereignty. Then I derive some consequences of my interpretation regarding the inadequacy of some mainstream readings of Kant´s theory of international Right.