4 ms·
Does "illegal" really mean anything in the international system? Certainly governments cite "international law" to score propaganda points, but to show that it
by gruseom 13y ago
Does "illegal" really mean anything in the international system? Certainly governments cite "international law" to score propaganda points, but to show that it really means something, it's not enough to show cases where weak nations were punished for violating it—one would need an example of a strong nation being punished for violating it. Without that, it isn't the rule of law, only the rule of the strong. Has there been any such case? (Certainly there are many examples of strong nations violating so-called international law with impunity.)
- jacquesm 13y agoI think we'll know the answer to that question when oil finally really does run out. There is too much uncertainty past that point to make any predictions at all but I figure as soon as the ability to project power short of ICBMs goes out the window and the geopolitical map drawn up around one particular resource gets redrawn there will be a big push for something more stable in the longer term. And trade embargoes are a lot easier to maintain when it isn't as easy to move around. Until then it will be status quo with bigger countries ignoring the treaties they've signed and ratified whenever they feel like.