International Law and International Relations

What is it about?

This article examines international law and international relations, multilateral treaties, political theories of international law (realism, rational/functionalist theories, constructivist approaches), and legal agreements. It also discusses the implementation, compliance, and effectiveness of international law.

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Why is it important?

Competing visions of the role of international law in international relations have given rise to a lively debate about how law orders relationships among states and other actors in the international setting. This is a setting that most analysts continue to believe is short on centralized authority to enforce international rules. Over the last few years, theories have developed about the ways in which international legal commitments influence cooperation by buttressing credible commitments among states as well as through the use of legal rhetoric to facilitate persuasion and legitimation.