The theory of international law : a synopsis of the classic debates

Abstract

Asked to define international law in a way which will bring the greatest pleasure to the greatest number of jurisprudes one will probably end up with a statement like this: International law is a code of binding norms for the regulation of external conduct in the international community. Perhaps a well-sounding statement but certainly not a very informative one. It does not tell us, for example, whether this "code" is a set of separate norms or a system of norms, what the formal sources of these norms are, what the nature of their binding force is, how the international community is composed and organized, or how international law relates to municipal law. In fact, opinions on these questions differ considerably and the above "definition" of international law is about the closest one can come to a common denominator.