Origins of International Law

Question 1

Name and define the 6 primary origins of international law.

Answer 1

1. Ancient times: countries had agreements and treaties to avoid going to war (prior to modern history)
2. The League of Nations: established in 1920 after WWI – deemed ineffective
3. The Geneva Conventions: founded on July 27, 1929, and consists of humanitarian laws that protect wounded and sick civilians during times of armed conflict and prisoners of war – – still in effect presently
4. The United Nations: founded in 1945 following the tragedies of WWII – still in effect presently
5. Nuremberg principles/trials: trials in a tribunal for crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, and war crimes – in effect between 1945-1949, and convicted 19/22 defendants in its time
6. Rwandan genocide (1994): in 1998, most members of the UN agreed that a formal court was needed, thus creating the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Question 2

Name and define the 2 primary issues of international law.

Answer 2

1. State sovereignty: the lawful control of a state over its territory, their right to govern that territory, and their authority to apply law there to the exclusion of the others – international law can limit their freedom of action, thus limiting their sovereignty
2. Morality: the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong