Hugo Grotius

(1583 –1645)

1. Was a Dutch humanist, diplomat, lawyer, theologian Laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law 
2. Gave ‘just war’ theory; rationalism in IR 
3. Contributed significantly to the evolution of the notion of Rights- belonging to persons, as the expression of an ability to act or as a means of realizing something. 
4. Pioneer of the doctrine of ‘international society’- idea of one society of state bound by laws and mutual agreements 
5. Hedley Bull (of English school of IR) called him intellectual father of Westphalia Peace Treaty- 1648

Books:

1. On the Law of War and Peace
2. The Free Seas

Sovereignty:

1. ”the supreme political power vested in him whose acts are not subject to any other and whose will cannot be overridden”