What Is International Law?

English philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) coined the said term 'international law'. It is basically the body of legal rules, regulations, norms, and standards that apply between sovereign states and other entities that are legally recognized as international actors. In simple words, international law is a set of rules and regulations which govern and monitor the relations between states.

It is an important part of the general structure of International Relations but is different from the International Comity.

Evolution of International Laws

With rapid strides of development and the passage of time, society, in general, has been evolving, and with society, the mindsets evolve. To keep pace with the modernizing era, governing bodies have become more dynamic than ever. International Laws have been examined and analyzed by great experts and scholars, which eventually concluded that to keep up with ongoing development, these laws should be restructured and modified.

 Now, these laws are much more than just mere rules and norms. These laws now aim to inform and educate the public rather than just being influential. Thus, these laws are also termed as Public International Laws. There are a lot more issues nowadays which need to be focused on by the international actors due to which the range of subjects which concern the laws have widened considerably and are a way beyond the typical classical subjects.

Important Terminologies

• Ambassador: To facilitate good communication between two nations, an unbiased government body comes into play. This government official is known as an Ambassador.
• International Court of Justice: Various internal disputes arise between different nations concerning international laws. The trivial ones find their way out easily, but some of them are taken to court for fair judgment. The International Court of Justice is a judicial branch of the UN that tends to resolve these issues.
• Interpol: To fight international crimes and solve the issues regarding international laws, an international network of police works together.
• Security Council: This committee comprises members who analyze and determine whether a situation will cause a threat to international security.

Areas of Practice

Business and Commercial Law

The functioning of any business organization at a global level is not easy and involves various stages and subsequent check points. From the manufacturing of products to their trading, everything has to be done without violating the basic rules and regulations. These rules and norms are laid down by international laws to avoid any strain in public relations and to ensure ethical security.

Civil Law

Different countries offer different kinds of grants and permissions. These permissions might be only specific for that region and may not be applicable in other countries. To prevent refugees from strict totalitarian regimes from coming, civil laws are strictly laid down.

Admiralty & Maritime Law

One of the common modes of trade between nations is the ocean. Admiralty and maritime law provide guidelines and rules which are to be strictly followed while interactions between nations at such times.