In a world scarred by war, inequality, and selective justice, it’s tempting to write off international law as irrelevant. The Gaza war, the invasion of Ukraine, and ongoing abuses in Kashmir often seem to expose its failures. Critics are quick to call it broken. But that skepticism, while understandable, misses the point. International law is far from perfect – and yet, it is everywhere. It is the reason planes fly safely across borders, satellites function in outer space, trade flows, and global finance maintains some semblance of order. It’s why states still debate, justify, and – perhaps most importantly – pretend to follow rules. That alone is power.
Yes, parts of international law, particularly International Humanitarian Law (IHL), are under severe strain. The deliberate targeting of civilians, denial of humanitarian aid, and use of explosive weapons in populated areas continue with impunity in several conflicts. The rules of war seem broken – or worse, ignored. But to say that IHL has failed is to overlook what it has accomplished: it gave us the Geneva Conventions, the International Criminal Court, and a language to condemn atrocities. It gave humanity a legal vocabulary to name war crimes, to call out genocide, to document crimes against humanity – even when the perpetrators walk free.
To dismiss international law because it is imperfect is like giving up on domestic law because crimes still happen. We don’t abolish national courts just because every thief isn’t caught. The same logic applies globally.
More importantly, international law is not just about war and peace. It quietly governs the ordinary, the technical, and the everyday. Take your smartphone – the signals it uses are regulated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized UN agency that coordinates global radio spectrum. Or consider your last international flight. The reason it flew seamlessly across multiple national airspaces is because of the 1944 Chicago Convention, a cornerstone of international aviation law. The food on your plate? The World Trade Organization (WTO) helps regulate how goods move across borders. Even the internet, that digital lifeline, is underpinned by international cooperation through bodies like ICANN and UNESCO.
If that still feels abstract, let’s talk money. When Pakistan was placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, there was no treaty compelling investors to back away. And yet, global banks hesitated. Donors grew wary. Investment dried up. FATF, though not legally binding, shaped real-world consequences. This is the strength of “soft law” – it operates through peer pressure, reputation, and the fear of isolation. If a country lands on a blacklist, doors close. And that’s enough to push governments to change course.
So why do countries follow rules that aren’t even enforceable?
Because international law, even in its most non-binding form, provides legitimacy. It creates expectations. It tells the world what is “right” and what is “wrong.” And while enforcement may be patchy, the law’s normative value persists. Leaders care about being seen as lawful – or at least justifiable – in their actions. Even aggressors draft legal rationales. Why bother if international law didn’t matter?
To abandon international law because it cannot solve everything is to throw away one of humanity’s few collective achievements. Instead of discarding it, we should be asking how to strengthen it. We need better enforcement mechanisms, more equitable institutions, and stronger political will. But the answer is not no law – it is better law.
Its legacy includes defining moments of clarity and principle – like the Nicaragua v. United States case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which reaffirmed the prohibition on the use of force and upheld the sovereignty of nations, even when a superpower stood accused. That judgment didn’t just shape legal precedent; it sent a message that even the powerful can be held to account by law.
International law is not a utopia. It reflects global power structures, yes. It often bends under pressure, true. But it also evolves. It codified the prohibition of slavery, apartheid, and the use of chemical weapons. It gave us climate treaties, refugee protections, and disarmament regimes. These gains did not come easily – nor are they guaranteed to last without public trust. In the end, law is not just about punishment; it’s about values. International law enshrines our shared belief that no one – not even a state – is above accountability.
