Ma il Terzo è ancora assente. Riflessioni a partire dalla polemica fra Norberto Bobbio e Danilo Zolo

Written on the twentieth anniversary of Norberto Bobbio’s death, this paper aims to examine the enduring relevance of the Turinese philosopher’s reflections on international law, particularly in relation to the critiques proffered by Danilo Zolo. Bobbio and Zolo represent two paradigmatic figures within Italian legal philosophy: the former advocated for a globalist conception of the international legal system – drawing inspiration from both Kant and Kelsen – whereas the latter challenged this position from a pluralist and Schmittian perspective. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that the tension between monism and pluralism – namely, between global governance and a polyarchy of power centres – remains the unresolved crux of contemporary world politics.