The Institutionalization of International Law at a Crossroads: Pacifists, Jurists, and the Creation of the ILA and the IDI

The International Law Association (ILA) and the Institut de Droit (IDI) were both founded in 1873 at a critical juncture history of pacifism internationalism, immediate aftermath 1870–1871 Franco-Prussian War 1872 British-American Alabama arbitration. Frustrated by blatant violations international rules during war then emboldened arbitral resolution protracted dispute between Britain United States, pacifists jurists joined forces to promote an ordered system law advocate for legalized settlement. aim was marshal scattered reformist furtherance legal reform—“international needed be institutionalized,” as Gerald Fitzmaurice put it. 1 This resulted almost simultaneous establishment pacifism-originated ILA legal-scientism-oriented IDI, helped explain similarity institutional telos high degree overlap membership two institutions their early years. 2 Nevertheless, IDI differed working agendas strategies. In terms agendas, while tended adopt idealist view hardly succumbing compromises, mainly adhered scientifically pragmatic approach. With respect strategies, sought social influence based on expansive membership, IDI's consisted limited number jurists. Despite changes over time, these organizational structures distinctions founding moment are still visible.