International Law and International Organizations

international law

set of rules that govern the interactions between countries and other actors

international institutions

norms and standards accepted globally that shape how we act

international organizations

physical embodiments of international institutions

Hugo Grotius

father of international law

Sources of International Law

treaties, customary law, general principles of law, judicial decisions

treaties

establishment of standards/actions between 3+ states

Customary Law

uniform and consistent; generally accepted as rules of conduct within a community

general principles of law

fundamental rule or truth that can be applied to certain situations

judicial decisions

interpret treaties and define customary law

Arbitration Tribunals

since Jay Treaty (1794) — property disputes

Article 14 of League of Nations

established the Permanent Court of International Justice

Hague Peace Conference (1899)

established the permanent court of Arbitration, established rules of war

International Court of Justice

established by UN Charter (1945); settles legal disputes between states

International Criminal Court

established (1998), punishes war criminals, genocide crimes

Public International Unions (1815/1914)

apolitical, represent workers and promote their rights

Concert of Europe

agreement between European powers to maintain the balance of power in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars (multilateralism)

UN Charter

established and laid the foundation for the United Nations after WWII

UN Organs

1. Security Council

2. General Assembly

3. General Secretariat

4. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

5. International Court of Justice

6. Trusteeship Council (1945-1994)

how many members are in the UN?

193

who are the observers of the UN?

Palestine and the Holy See

General Assembly

discussion forum for the UN, all 193 members are in it

UN Security Council

15-membered council to settle security disputes or issues

ECOSOC

coordinates socioeconomic activity; IMF, World Bank, and WHO report to it

Veto Members (P-5)

US, UK, China, France, Russia

non-permanent UNSC members

10 members chosen for by regional caucuses, 2 year terms

Chapter VII

right to use force as a last resort against an aggressor

Chapter VI and a half

peacekeeping is in between the nonviolent resolution (VI) and authorization of force (VII)

peacekeeping

unarmed officers sent to conflict areas or lightly armed peacekeepers that interpose themselves

peacebuilding

coordinating rebuilding efforts after conflict and reducing risk of relapse

peace enforcement

enforcement of ceasefires

Black Hawk Down (1993)

heavy casualties in Battle of Mogadishu with two American Black Hawks being shot down

human security

protection people’s freedom from fear and want

Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

UN principle to prevent genocide, war crimes, and other mass atrocities

humanitarian intervention

coercive action against a state to protect people within its borders from suffering grave harm