Uncover the surprising realities of international law’s unequal foundations. Rose Parfitt’s seminal work challenges the axiom of sovereign equality, using fresh archival research and anti-colonial scholarship. It introduces a modular legal historiography to explain how international law creates and sustains disparities in wealth and power. This critical examination, vital for understanding the global legal order, delves into historical narratives to expose the conditional nature of statehood. Essential for law students, academics, and researchers interested in legal history and resistance strategies.