International Politics Unit 3

International Law

Governs war and peace negotiations and establishes principles for conduct among states.

Institutions vs. Organizations

Institutions are norms and practices that are intangible, whereas organizations are physical entities.

Hugo Grotius

Known as the 'father of international law,' he founded the principle that all law derives from principles of justice.

Sources of International Law

Outlined in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Treaties

Binding agreements between states that become part of international law.

Customs

Actions taken by states to facilitate trade and travel, which can establish norms in international law.

General Principles of International Law

Include sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, human rights, and self-determination.

Judicial Decisions in International Law

Legal precedents that apply international law and can influence future actions.

ICJ vs. ICC

The International Court of Justice prosecutes states, while the International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals.

History of International Organizations

Includes the Congress of Vienna and the establishment of the United Nations (UN).

Purpose of International Organizations

Established to address issues that cannot be solved individually and to create interdependence among states.

United Nations Charter

The foundational treaty of the UN that establishes the principles of sovereignty and peaceful dispute resolution.

UN General Assembly

Comprises all member states and serves as the main policy-making body of the UN.

ECOSOC

The Economic and Social Council, responsible for coordinating economic and social issues.

UN Security Council (UNSC)

Composed of 15 members responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

Veto Members (P5)

The permanent members of the UNSC with veto power: USA, China, France, Russia, UK.

Chapter VII of the UN Charter

Allows the UN to act with aggression when necessary to maintain peace.

Chapter VI and a half

Suggests that peacemaking is an integral part of international relations law.

Peacekeeping vs. Peacebuilding vs. Peace Enforcement

Peacekeeping involves monitoring, peacebuilding focuses on reconciliation, and peace enforcement involves using force.

Black Hawk Down Incident

Signified the end of US-led military intervention in Somalia.

Human Security

Focuses on protecting individuals' safety, dignity, and human rights.

Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

A global UN commitment to prevent war crimes and genocides.