International Definition and 208 Threads

International law, also known as public international law and law of nations, is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally accepted in relations between nations. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for states across a broad range of domains, including war, diplomacy, trade, and human rights. International law aims to promote the practice of stable, consistent, and organized international relations.The sources of international law include international custom (general state practice accepted as law), treaties, and general principles of law recognized by most national legal systems. International law may also be reflected in international comity, the practices and customs adopted by states to maintain good relations and mutual recognition, such as saluting the flag of a foreign ship or enforcing a foreign legal judgment.
International law differs from state-based legal systems in that it is primarily—though not exclusively—applicable to countries, rather than to individuals, and operates largely through consent, since there is no universally accepted authority to enforce it upon sovereign states. Consequently, states may choose to not abide by international law, and even to break a treaty. However, such violations, particularly of customary international law and peremptory norms (jus cogens), can be met with coercive action, ranging from military intervention to diplomatic and economic pressure.
The relationship and interaction between a national legal system (municipal law) and international law is complex and variable. National law may become international law when treaties permit national jurisdiction to supranational tribunals such as the European Court of Human Rights or the International Criminal Court. Treaties such as the Geneva Conventions may require national law to conform to treaty provisions. National laws or constitutions may also provide for the implementation or integration of international legal obligations into domestic law.

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  1. P

    News Mosque killing: the reporter's experience, international reactions

    Kevin Sites, the reporter present at the killing in the Fallujah mosque, has written an account of his experience that day as an 'Open Letter to Devil Dogs of the 3.1'. The Middle East scholar who goes by 'Abu Aardvark' comments on how the current absence of al-Jazeera in Iraq affects public...
  2. P

    News Why Do Political Leaders Lie in International Affairs?

    "http://www.learnedhand.com/mearsheimer_lying.htm 's paper prepared for the American Political Science Foundation annual meeting this past week. Mearsheimer is a professor of Political Science and co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago...
  3. A

    News Some things from Amnesty International

    Pleasant reading: http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/2003/iraq04302003.html http://www.amnestyusa.org/askamnesty/iraq200305_1.html http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/iraq/index.do
  4. Ivan Seeking

    News International team to monitor US. Presidential Election

    http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/08/international.observers/
  5. J

    Opinions on International Baccalaureate (IBO) physics

    Has anyone taught, or been taught, using IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization) physics? If so, is it rigorous? Could it be taught online?
  6. S

    Night Sky Watching: The International Space Station

    I woke up at 4:30 PST (San Diego) and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to take my telescope out and finally check out Saturn, the Orion Nebula, and Mars again. They looked awesome through the 8" telescope and I wish I was able to take pictures. Then around 5:30 I saw a really bright object...
  7. russ_watters

    News US war crimes or other international law violations?

    In another thread, I posted this: Please note, I am looking for WAR CRIMES. Theoretical future violations of a declaration are not crimes or even possible crimes. I won't limit this to the Geneva Conventions though - any international law will do. Please note however that "declarations" of...
  8. E

    Today is: INTERNATIONAL BURN A DOLLAR BILL FOR WORLD PEACE DAY

    So please remember to burn your dollar bill. Thank you. http://ubbt.moby.com/userfiles/1676307-dollar344215c.jpg
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