INTERNATIONAL LAW

~The Basics ~Creating IL ~Primitive Nature ~Adherence International Law

Its Roots  Western influenced  European, then US domination  Father of International Law  Age of Reason  Natural Law ¤ Hugo Grotius Hugo Grotius ( )

Trends  Increased over time  More actors  More contact  Increased interdependence  Set rules  Coordinate policies ¤

Issues  Early law  war  Contemporary law  transnational issues  Differences between cultures  Cultural relativism Female genital cutting Gum in Singapore ¤

Creating Int’l Law  Sovereign states pursue self-interests  Based on customs & agreements  Bilateral, multilateral pacts  Form IGOs Help establish agreements Monitor adherence UN Int’l Court of Justice, UN Atomic Regulator, UN Environmental Programme, many more for diff. issues INTERPOL Coordinates policing IMF Monetary regulation WTO Trade regulation

Creating Int’l Law: Mercury AgreementMercury Agreement Why is the Minamata Convention important?  Mercury exposure = highly toxic Bad for people Inhale, ingest, skin contact Harms environment Seeps into soil, pollutes water, poisons animals and plants Minamata, Japan- one of world’s worst cases Local chemical plant water pollution Minamata Disease ¤

Creating Int’l Law: Mercury Agreement (cont.)  What does it regulate?  Supply, trade, use  Emission reduction in mining, power plants, metals production  Why did 140+ states agree?  In their self-interest  Straightforward, uncontroversial objective  Won’t restrict coal burning 24% emissions Relatively easy fix

Primitive Nature  Based on customs, agreements  Coastal territory  No overarching enforcement authority  Sovereignty  Requires cooperation  Self-interests ¤

Adherence So, is international law really law?  Compliance is voluntary Russia and Crimea – UN declares vote illegalUN declares vote illegal  Means of enforcement  Most states obey international laws- Why?  Ex. : U.S. compiles with WTO cotton subsidy ruling Reputation Long-term benefits v. short term losses Employ means to convince states to comply Sets precedence for cooperation ¤

Adherence What is at issue in A Line in the Sea?A Line in the Sea  Peru and Chile have maritime boundary dispute  Peru turned to International Court of Justice (ICJ) Wants more territory 1952 ‘treaty’ was just fishing agreement What was the ruling?  ICJ- Peru gets more territory Hito 1 was customary line  Chile keeps inshore control ¤

Adherence Why will Peru and Chile likely comply?  Each got some territory  Got ICJ ruling- good to abide by it  Trade interests  ICJ might use Bolivia’s complaint against Chile if it doesn’t abide ¤

Adherence What is at issue in Force Majeure?Force Majeure  China claims lots of the South China Sea Other say claims in their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)  Philippines claim Spratly Islands, EEZ Wants to use IGOs to settle dispute: UN, ASEAN  Vietnam claims Paracel Islands, EEZ Led to rioting Why doesn’t China comply?  Claims are valid; UNCLOS is wrong ¤

Adherence How are these issues similar to other issues? China’s SCS claims Germany’s Sudetenland claims Russia in Crimea Indonesia’s EEZ with fishing Claims are for economic gain WTO rulings Solar panels, steel, and Jeep tariffs U.S. intervention unlikely; similar to Taiwan situation ¤

~ The Basics ~Creating IL ~ Primitive Nature ~Adherence International Law: Recap

IL & Lord of War How does Lord of War demonstrate IL is primitive?  Compliance is voluntary US allows Yuri to operate  Means of enforcement INTERPOL can’t stop Yuri  IL regulating weapons trade Yuri dodges, finds loopholes ¤

IL & Lord of War What issues/events does Lord of War address?  CW-arms build-up; post-CW sales P-5 biggest arms dealers  Civil war Child soldiers  Human security issues Health, poverty, lack of opportunities  Transnational crime Illegal trade in guns, blood diamonds, drugs ¤