The article concentrates on the core issue of Walther Schücking�s scientific efforts and his literary production as a publicist � the idea of international organization. It begins by situating Schücking�s methodological approach, notably his desire to move beyond legal positivism, before moving on to analyse Schücking�s specific understanding of the notion of international organization. Schücking argued that the general motto �peace through law� should be attained by a �republican organization� of the world and stated that a relevant trend towards a true rule of law on the international level was already on its way. In fact, Schücking went even further and postulated a world confederation �Weltstaatenbund� as the centrepiece of the reform of international law and the key for the realization of all further progress in the field. Having assessed features of Schücking�s reform programme, which he put forward with considerable consistency, the article argues that Schücking is rightly seen as a pioneer who broke new ground in analysing the phenomenon of international organization.