Paper Topic:

International Relations

The most fundamental of all human rights is the right of all human beings to live in peace and dignity without the constant fear and threat of extinction . However , the beginning of the 21st century has been defined by acts of aggression , genocide , apartheid , terrorism and other crimes against the citizens of the world . With the world divided , most recently by the U .S . led invasion of Iraq , the international judicial bodies are needed more than ever to uphold the international Many would argue that the invasion of Iraq was a blatant slap

in the face to the United Nations as a sovereign international body Coincidentally though , the United States acted upon its claim that Saddam Hussein was violating international laws . Actions that cause death and suffering on an global scale must be prohibited , as it may threaten the fundamental right to life and peace that is outlined in international law

While progress has already been made toward establishing an effective judiciary process , the United Nations has yet to earn the respect of the entire global community (including the major superpowers . The definition of international crime is still somewhat nebulous , however the progress of acting up international crimes is even further away from full evolution . This will explain the history of international law , in addition to its impact on the global community and international br

International law is the sum of all rules which bind nations . These rules come from three sources : International Agreements (i .e . treaties conventions , etc ) which create a rule . Any state which ratifies such an agreement is bound by the rule International Custom , when it can be seen as evidence of a general practice accepted as law by nations even though they have not ratified an agreement and General Principles of Law , recognized by "civilized " nations , and usually borrowed from other legal traditions

The Hague conferences of 1899 and 1907 looked to compulsory jurisdiction of arbitration tribunals to replace the armaments race among opposing Powers , but their efforts failed , and the principle remaining alternative was to continue to settle their differences by armed combat The need for an intervening mediatory body was obvious , but traditional sovereign countries were unwilling to cooperate with an international body . As a result , World War I broke out , with millions of soldiers from many countries fighting to resolve its nations problems

An important note to this evolution of international law was the mishap trial of the Kaiser , who was to be tried for having initiated acts of aggression towards other countries , despite the clear obligations of Articles 228 , 229 and 230 of the Versailles Treaty . On many occasions during its early years , international judicial activities were considered unimportant , and many of the war crimes that had come out of the First World War were either left untried or unresolved

The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 was ratified by almost all nations . It purported to outlaw war as a means of settling disputes , but it left each State free to decide...

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