The efficacy, nature and debates surrounding the modern international law have been incisively explored in this chapter. The reason why institutions are usually constructed by the international societies have been addressed and argued out in this chapter. It is also evident that different historical contexts are responsible for the emergence of these institutions (Baylis, Smith and Owens 283).
The origin, nature and development of contemporary institutions that address international law have been equally discussed. These modern institutions seem to be borrowing a lot from the new global legal order that has been marred by cosmopolitanization.
As a matter of fact, international law is no longer an independent entity that weaker nations across the world can rely upon bearing in mind that the various laws of war adopted by powerful nations have swayed the ideals of international law. In any case, various approaches on international law vividly reveal that a significant paradox exists on the rules of law that circumnavigate the international law ethics. Hence, the chapter supports the thesis that the concept of international law is multifaceted with diverse interpretations.
While we may argue that international law is especially instrumental to nations that have signed binding agreements, the crux of the matter is matter is that there is little regard to international law when individual national interests are brought on board (Wolfrum and Röben 65).
Nonetheless, international law has proved to be an inevitable tool of managing the expectations of the world in various spheres of development. This is the same evidence that the author uses to support his arguments throughout the chapter. Perhaps, the grand question that demands a straightforward response is yet to be asked.
For instance, any student of international relationship should be quick to inquire the effectiveness of international law after conducting a deductive study of this chapter. It is so clear that most of the provisions of the modern international law are closely intertwined with political foundations of the partner countries.
Additional evidence provided by the author in respect to the functionality and efficacy of international institutions is the concept of realism. It is not understood why the author has related realists with power struggle (Wolfrum and Röben 79). Nevertheless, it is indeed true that the power to wage successful wars against states perceived to be enemies remains as one of the most lethal and retrogressive tools against the progress of international law.
The various levels of international institutions that control or dominate international statues may not be as practical as the author has put them across. For instance, the so-called issue specific institutions hardly pursue the “agenda issue” as they purport (Baylis, Smith and Owens 285).
Even when rules are enacted by such institutions, the anticipated benefits do not trickle back to the neediest segment of the population. The author discusses this portion of the chapter with zeal in spite of the fact that the issue-specific regimes are one of the worst actors in international law. Therefore, this piece of evidence is not adequately convincing.
It is factual that the author is extremely analytical in presenting the various arguments in the chapter. The paradox of international law, the contemporary institutions of international law and the metamorphosis of international law have all been addressed both analytically and sequentially. Finally, it is prudent to note that the connection between ethics in international relations as well as international law and justice have not been expounded in this chapter.
Works Cited
Baylis John, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (5th ed.). Toronto: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.
Wolfrum, Rüdiger and Volker, Röben (eds). Legitimacy In International Law. New York: Springer, 2008. Print.