International Law

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Introduction:

International law has been regarded throughout history as the main system of rules regulating players of the international community, it applies to all states and imposes specific obligations and rights on nations, just as domestic law imposes them on individuals. Its purpose is similar to that of domestic law that is to eliminate chaos in the International community and set standards of behavior which states must follow in their dealings with each other.

Many controversies have arisen nowadays as to whether international law is “natural law”, international law now faces considerable criticism as to its effectiveness as law and doubts as to its actual existence, and its power to bind countries .

Some say that international law has failed to serve its purpose as International legal system, created to supervise relations of states, and achieve fairness between states in the international community. Some may even argue that International law is now controlled by states and reflects the character of society rather than the opposite. But to how extent is this true? Does international law set the rules for nations to abide by, creating a pattern of behavior followed by societies or has it merely become a mirror reflecting the behavior and practices of societies and controlled by it?

In this paper, I will attempt to show that while it is true that International law reflects the character of the society, it would be also correct to say that the opposite is correct.

The Development of the Modern International Law

Law is the framework which applies to members of the community and sets the binding values and standards recognized by its subjects. It regulates their behaviour and it reflects the principles ...

... middle of paper ...

...)). As the society is constantly changing and developing, international law is also in constant development, and with time, it came to reflect the legal relations between non-states such as companies and individuals, as well as relations between states, it is being shaped into a new system which is more involved in the structure of the society itself and not only based on state sovereignty.

Bibliography

• Janis M., Introduction to International law, ch.1

• I. Lukashuk, the system of fundamental principles of international law vol.2,1989 (in Russian)).

• Dixon., International Law., ch1

• http://www.un.org/law/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_law

• http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/

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