POLI 12 Chapter Notes - Chapter 459-485: World Politics, Wella, Multilateralism
Document Summary
Established by states through either custom or convention as a way to facilitate international cooperation. International law: a body of rules that binds states and other agents in world politics and is considered to have the status of law. States often bargain intensely over the rules and their interpretation. Does not mean end of conflict between states, but is itself the product of political interaction and struggle. International law is a body of rules linked together in a common logical structure. Not simply an ad hoc list of rules issued or even enforced by some authority. Rules must be woven together by one or more unifying principles. Primary unifying concept is sovereignty, that all states have equal rights to make international law and can be bound by law only by their consent. Forms foundation on which rules governing state and nonstate behavior become international law. To have status of law the rules must include both primary and secondary rules.
