POL208Y1 Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Summary
Document Summary
From international to supranational law: 4 characteristics of international law www. notesolution. com, 1st states were the primary subjects of international law, the principle bearers of rights and obligations. The classic view has been that international law applies only to states": 2nd states were the primary agents of international law, the only actors empowered to formulate, enact, and enforce international law. The laws of war: international governing the use of force is rightly considered the core of the modern international legal system. Theoretical approaches of international law www. notesolution. com: realism peace through law". For realists, international legal obligation is weak at best. Within the state, citizens are obliged to obey the law because sanctions exist to punish illegal behaviour. Realists have trouble explaining how international law comes to constrain strong states. If their perspective were correct, we would expect powerful states to violate international law with impunity. It is the strongest in areas where states have clear self-interest, such as trade or security.
