Is International Law in Crisis? Reflections on the Effectiveness of International Law

Abstract

Is international law effective? Is it respected? Does it have real power? Is it a tangible force? Or are the skeptics—who are often considered insightful—right when they assert that relations between states are merely power struggles in which the stronger imposes themselves on the weaker? These questions are frequently asked, and the answer is usually no: in that case, international law would be nothing more than a flimsy facade, and no one should be deceived by its illusory charm. This brief essay aims to put this question into perspective by examining the factors that influence the effectiveness of international law. Besides being indispensable, this law commands far more respect than one might imagine..