international laq
Welcome! I am excited to help you explore the fascinating world of international law, from how global treaties are made to how nations resolve massive disputes.
To make sure we tailor this session perfectly to you, could you tell me a bit about your background? For example, are you a student, or are you looking into international law for professional or personal reasons?
I am a student studying law or political science.
Your path
Sources of International Law
Key Principles and Limitations
International Actors and Institutions
What Exactly is International Law?
It is great to have a political science and law student here, as this background will make exploring these concepts incredibly rich. Let's start with a foundational definition.
At its core, international law is the set of rules, norms, and legal customs that govern how interact with one another, as well as how they treat international organizations and, in some cases, individuals.
Think of domestic law as the rules of a single household, while international law acts more like a neighborhood agreement. In our domestic lives, we have a centralized government, police, and courts to enforce the rules. In the international community, however, there is no "global government" or "world police" to force countries to behave. Instead, this system relies heavily on consent, mutual benefit, and shared expectations.