International Law Concepts and Goals

States must have a permanent population, defined territory, government, and capacity to engage in international relations to be recognized as subjects of international law.

A legal system where international law and domestic law are seen as separate and distinct, with no direct hierarchical relationship.

A legal system where international law is incorporated into domestic law and considered superior.

Groups of people with shared identity and connections, often transcending national borders.

The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain peace and security, promote development, and uphold human rights, but lacks the power to impose binding laws on states.

States willingly cede a degree of autonomy to ensure predictability and security in their interactions with other states.

A system with multiple powerful states or actors that influence global politics.

A set of principles, norms, rules, and decision-making processes that shape a specific area of international cooperation.

States act in their own self-interest, prioritizing power to ensure security in a world without a central authority.

States prioritize maintaining their current position and avoid aggressive expansion due to the risk of retaliation.

States strive for dominance through aggressive expansion and maximizing their power.

Formal agreements between states that outline mutual benefits and cooperation.

A state's right to exercise authority over individuals, property, or events within its territory.

A legal entity capable of entering into legal relationships, possessing rights and obligations.

A system of rules and institutions that govern interactions between states, characterized by shared principles and customary practices.

The economic factors that influence international law and relations.

A system of rules and principles that govern the relations between states and other international actors.

The principle that states have the right to govern their own affairs without interference from other states.

A theory that emphasizes the importance of international cooperation, institutions, and the rule of law in maintaining stability and order.

A theory that emphasizes the pursuit of national interests and power in a world of anarchy, where states are constantly competing for survival and dominance.

The idea that states use a balance of power, alliances, and international organizations to manage conflicts and maintain stability.

A type of international law that is based on the common practices of states and is not codified in treaties.

A system where the dominant state is a liberal democracy and tries to shape the world in its own image, often through institutions.

A legal theory that upholds the idea that international law is directly applicable within the domestic legal system.

A theory arguing that international institutions are essential for cooperation and peace, especially in a world where states are interdependent.

The idea that liberalism's values, like democracy and free trade, are woven into the fabric of international relations. It emphasizes checks and balances within states.

A situation in which two parties would be better off cooperating, but might choose to act in their own self-interest, leading to a worse outcome for both.

A set of rules and practices that bind states together in a web of mutual benefit. It promotes cooperation despite potential conflict.

The idea that our actions create the realities we experience. In international relations, this means states and their interactions define the system.

An informal rule that is widely accepted and followed, even without being explicitly stated.

Basic principles of law that apply across different legal systems. These are broad and universal.

A key source of international law, these are agreements between states that are legally binding.