Who Has the Power to Enforce International Law? (Israel, borders, solution)

[PhilliesPhan2013]

I have been confused about this for a very long time. Who has the power to enforce international law? How can they create laws to effectively tell a sovereign nation, such as the United States, what to do? The basis of the second question is why I essentially disagree with the notion of "international laws". The only governing body that should be able to direct a sovereign nation, is the governing body of said sovereign nation.

[Grsz11]

The idea is if everybody buys into certain behavior, if you act contrary to those behaviors, you become an international pariah, like North Korea. There is no international law that you don't already agree to. The US can't say too much about Chinese maritime borders because we haven't ratified the Law of the Sea. Therefore, we don't have to abide by its terms, though we generally do. The sovereign nation has decided for itself that it will abide by the terms and enforcement if there is any.

[PDXNative2Houston]

The UN. The problem is that if a rogue state is "in" with the 4 nations that have veto power, they can really break the law at will and the whole system comes in to question. Israel is an example of this, with multitudes of violations of international law on their record, yet every UN resolution set forth against them is vetoed by the U.S.

[Frank DeForrest]

And more importantly, intergalactic law?

[Grsz11]

Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest

And more importantly, intergalactic law?

That's easy, the Galactic Empire.

[shooting4life]

internationla law is a joke. Treaties and agreements are also a joke.

International law is like a speed limit on a freeway that everyone knows is never patrolled.

[mm4]

'International law' is enforced by whatever cabal has taken the power to throw its weight around.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan2013

I have been confused about this for a very long time. Who has the power to enforce international law? How can they create laws to effectively tell a sovereign nation, such as the United States, what to do? The basis of the second question is why I essentially disagree with the notion of "international laws". The only governing body that should be able to direct a sovereign nation, is the governing body of said sovereign nation.

Ever heard of Machiavelli?

That's how things work out in the international community.

Think of it like a prison with no guards.

[TheWiseWino]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan2013

I have been confused about this for a very long time. Who has the power to enforce international law? How can they create laws to effectively tell a sovereign nation, such as the United States, what to do? The basis of the second question is why I essentially disagree with the notion of "international laws". The only governing body that should be able to direct a sovereign nation, is the governing body of said sovereign nation.

Ready for a serious answer?

There are a number of organizations that by treaty are responsible for enforcing international agreements. The World Trade Organization, the International War Crimes Tribunal, the International Criminal Court, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Civil Aviation Organization are just a few. Each court relies on signatories of these organizational treaties to enforce, threw their respective national courts and law enforcement agencies to prosecute violations. It ain't perfect just as our justice system isn't but there the best we have.