Essay Questions Flashcards
“There are no significant reasons for states to obey international laws, and without enforcement mechanisms, such law has little effect on international relations.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
All states in the contemporary world, including great powers, are compelled to justify their behavior according to legal rules and accepted norms. International laws have huge effects on international relations. Countries can be taken to court or even sued if they are considered “out of line” by other states. There is and exception to this, superpower states (such as the US) do not always follow international law because there is no one that can make them.
What are the possibilities for reforming the United Nations? Briefly review the major proposals for the U.N. reform that have been suggested then state what you think should be done, is anything, and why.
There has been talk of reforming the Security Council, the Economic and social counsel and the General assembly. I think all of these parts of the United Nations could use some work. First the Security Council has changed little since it was made but the geopolitical politics have changed a great deal. The Economic part of this only represents the most powerful and richest states and finally the General Assembly is really just a slightly more successful Economic and social counsel.
