In Defense of International Law in Times of Crisis

The present article will argue that, however understandable, this attitude is flawed as it conflates cause and effect. Most international legal rules are silently complied with as a matter of routine. There is no denying that the fundamental rules and principles aimed at ensuring international peace and security are increasingly abused or plainly infringed upon. However, the point will be made that the increase in international (and national) illegality is not attributable to ostensible flaws in the law, but a consequence of the poor state of health of the international society. In fact, next to its rules-making and enforcement connotation, international law will be considered as a thermometer of the state of health of the international society.