Cultural relativism should not be an excuse to avoid the difficulties of enforcing an individualistic human rights system in communities believing in collective rights.
Though it provides a solid basis for determining the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention in theory, the English School encounters certain challenges in practice.
US reluctance to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, aside from selective cases, undermines efforts to build the organization’s legitimacy.
Despite criticisms, the ‘peace through law’ approach to international law is a functional & realistic one, and it enables the daily functioning of international law.
War on Terror drone policies problematise classic Just War (JW) approaches. However, JW-inspired international law has the ability to ensure accountability.
International law seeks to codify the international playing field. However, it is an essentially elastic & permissive system reflecting real-world power distributions.
A naval approach to Somali piracy is & will continue to be ineffective – it doesn’t address its root causes. Piracy will continue without a human security approach.
Hedley Bull’s critique and utilisation of Hobbes’ theory of international anarchy provides a coherent and realistic explanation of the international system.
R2P, although a symbolic moral step for human rights, is not a sufficiently effective positive step, and is too militaristic in its approach.
While the ICC remains an important step in ending impunity for the worst crimes, its existence does not suffice to significantly change the justice of our international order.
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