In order to make the global system less chaotic and unpredictable, states
often make agreements with one another to modify their behavior. International
agreements are treaties signed by a number of states that establish
global rules of conduct. Some agreements focus on single issues, whereas others
cover many areas. Theoretically, international agreements benefit the states that
sign them. States that break these rules—sometimes called rogue
states—are usually treated with wariness by the rest of the world.
Example: The United States has identified
North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Cuba as rogue states because they have continually
threatened international security by harboring terrorists and fostering the
development of weapons of mass destruction. Afghanistan and Iraq were considered
rogue states before the American invasions in the early twenty-first century. As
soon as a state begins cooperating and participating in the international
community, it loses its status as a rogue state. In 2002, the U.S. Department of
State removed Libya from its list of rogue states after the Libyan government
voluntarily agreed to renounce terrorism and violence.
International law is the collection of rules and regulations that
have evolved over the past few centuries. These rules define the rights and
obligations of states. Sometimes treaties codify and formalize international law,
but just as often, international law arises from custom and habit. The International
Court of Justice, in the Netherlands, is the judicial body of the United Nations and
is responsible for resolving disputes among states.
Example: In 2006, the International Court
of Justice heard testimony relating to a boundary dispute between Nicaragua and
Colombia. Another case on its docket concerned charges of genocide brought by
Bosnia against Serbia; in early 2007, the court ruled in favor of Bosnia,
deciding that Serbia had failed to prevent genocide in Bosnia.
The Effectiveness of International Law
A key dispute among political scientists concerns the effectiveness of
international law. Realists argue that because there is no international police
force to enforce international law, the law has no real power. States only obey
international law when it is in their interest to do so. Liberalists, however,
dispute this idea, contending that there are real consequences to breaking
international law—such as sanctions and even military occupation—and that
international organizations have a measurable impact on global relations.
International Treaties
International treaties serve as an important part of international law.
States sign treaties to end wars, protect their interests, and make
international law. The treaties listed in the chart below have significantly
contributed to the structure of the international systems.
significant international treaties
|
Treaty
|
Date Signed
|
Purpose/Effect
|
| Sykes-Picot
Agreement | 1916 | Set boundaries that still exist today for nations in the
Middle East |
| Treaty of
Versailles | 1919 | Ended World War I; its punitive treatment of Germany set
the stage for World War II |
| Munich
Agreement | 1938 | Gave the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) to Germany
in exchange for a promise of no more expansion; its violation led to
World War II |
| United
Nations Charter | 1945 | Created the United Nations |
|
Treaty
|
Date Signed
|
Purpose/Effect
|
| General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade | 1947 | Greatly reduced tariffs and boosted
trade |
| North
Atlantic Treaty | 1949 | Created the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
an alliance of Western powers dedicated to preventing communist
expansion |
| Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide | 1951 | Made genocide a crime punishable by the international
community |
| Warsaw
Pact | 1955 | The communist response to NATO; created an alliance of
Eastern European communist states |
| International Atomic Energy Treaty | 1957 | Regulates the use of atomic energy |
| Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty | 1968 | Made it illegal for states without atomic weapons to
acquire them |
| Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty | 1972 | Prevented the United States and the Soviet Union from
developing antiballistic missiles |
| Camp David
Accords | 1978 | A peace treaty between Egypt and Israel |
| Kyoto
Protocol | 2005 | Regulates greenhouse emissions to reduce global
warming |
