Relationship between international law and international relations

This article explores the relationship between international law and international relations, highlighting how international law governs foreign policy and trade. It also discusses the main functions of international organizations and the channels through which international laws are negotiated and developed. Additionally, it examines the circumstances in which it is considered right to fight.

Political Science

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Relationship between international law and international relations
International law is generally understood as a set of rules that is generally understood and
accepted as source through which they bind relations among states and among nations. It acts
as a framework for practicing stable and organised international relations. International law
governs the foreign policy of countries against the other state (Barker, 2000). International
law drives certain kind of international customers such as accords, charters, agreements and
many more things. International law drives practices that International community have
agreed upon. International law gives analytical framework, theories, concepts according to
which different phenomena between different countries workout. Whenever there is dispute
among different countries on any issue, it is the international law that decides the way in
which relations among the nations will carry on. Trading is an essential part of the
international relations which is governed by international law. International law also takes
care of the challenges that two countries are facing in their international relations (Henderson,
2010).
Main functions of International Organisation
International firms serve many diverse functions that involve accumulating information and
monitoring trends, providing aid and services, giving forums for bargaining as well as settling
disputes. International organisations helps in setting agendas, giving a place for political
activities, acting as a mediator for political bargaining as well as acting as a catalyst for
forming coalition. International organisations have the function to improve international
relations by acting as a mediator in the case of any disputes and makes arrangements where
different governments comes into an arrangement (Archer, 2001).
They are effective in fulfilling these functions as they have given different platforms to the
countries where they have their say. Since they are governed by different kinds of rules and
regulations hence they operate with standard operating procedures. This helps them in
fulfilling the functions that is undertaken by them (Rittberger and Zangl, 2006).

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Main channels and methods through which international laws are negotiated and
developed
International Laws are formed by mutual consent of the countries, given either through
international practice or by certain kind of treaty agreement. It is seen that bilateral or
multilateral treaties acts as a framework through which International laws are negotiated.
International court of justice is also a body that helps in development and negotiation of the
international law. Agreements made by the countries on any kind of issue acts as guidelines
that is used for developing international law (Alvarez, 2009). Multi-lateral talks at the
platforms such as UNO and other international organisations act as a channel through which
international laws are being developed.
Yes to some extent these channels have changed over the time. Integrated negotiations are
done these days and UN is forcing international laws on the countries to follow it strictly.
Previously international laws were more governed by treaties while these days it is more
made through agreements (Henderson, 2010).
When it is right to fight
There are various times when it is right to fight. In the situation of self-defence, it is right to
fight (Evans, 2004). In the world history this has been the major reason why two countries
fought. It is also understood to be right to fight when any particular country is becoming a
threat to the world. This is in case when one country is promoting non-state actors against
other countries, then the victim country has the right to fight against these non-state actors. In
the case when any particular country is violating human rights at larger levels, it is right to
fight against that country. This is because it is the responsibility of the international
community to protect humanitarianism. If the state calls for violence against its own people
then also the fight is justified.

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REFERENCES
Alvarez, J.E. 2009. ‘The New Treaty Makers,’ in Charlotte Ku and Paul F. Diehl (eds),
International Law: Classic and Contemporary Readings 3rd ed., Boulder: Lynne Rienner.
Archer, C. 2001. International Organizations 3rd ed., London: Routledge.
Barker, J.C. 2000. International Law and International Relations. London: Continuum.
Evans, G., 2004. When is it Right to Fight?. Survival, 46(3), pp.59-81.
Henderson, C. 2010. Understanding International Law, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Henderson, C. 2010. Understanding International Law, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Rittberger, V. and Zangl, B. 2006. International organization: polity, politics and policies.
Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.