Definition of International law

 

International law is a body of rules, principles and standards which regulate the international relations. it is a system of law which governs relations among states. Some definitions:

·         A body of rules established by custom or treaty and recognized by nations as binding in their relations with one another. (Oxford Dictionary)

·          International Law is the name for the body of customary and conventional  rules which are considered legally binding by civilized states in their relation with each other  within a community which by common consent of this community shall be enforced by external power. (Oppenheim)

·         It is a set of rules which are invoked because it is deemed most useful for dealing effectively with international controversies. (James Brierly, Hugo Grotius)

·         It is a body of law which composed of principles and rules of conduct which states feel bound to observe and therefore observe in their relations with each other. (Starke)

·         International law may be defined in broad terms as the body of general principles and specific rules which are binding upon the members of international community in their mutual relations. (Fenwick)

On the basis of these definitions given by the scholars international law may be defined as the sum of rules, principles and standards governing the relations among the states by norms mutually agreed upon by them. In other words, it is a set of rules generally regarded and accepted as binding in relations among states and nations. It serves as a framework for the practice of stable and organized international relations.

In the word of scholars, L.F.L (Lassa Francis Lawrence) Oppenheim (30 March 1858- 7 Oct. 1919) a renowned German jurist/ father of the modern discipline of international law/ hard legal positivist/ born in Windecken near the free city of Frankfurt/ son of jewish horse traders/ educated at Berlin university/ obtained Phd in 1881/ moved to UK in 1885/ acquired citizenship in 1900/ became professor in 1908 in Cambridge university/ author of internationally renowned book International law: A treaties/ died in UK.

James Leslie Brierly (9 Sep. 1881- 20 Dec. 1955) in Huddersfield UK/ Professor and Lawyer/ in first world war second lieutenant of  Wiltshire regiment/ served war office/ after the world war returned homeland/ in 1920 appointed Professor of law at Manchester university/ book The law of nations (1928).

Joseph Gabriel Starke (16 Nov. 1911- 24 Feb. 2006) in western Australia into a family of merchant/ visiting professor in Oxford university/ became a justice of supreme court of US/ work -Year Book.

Charles Ghequiere Fenwick (1880- 1973) American citizen/ Professor and scholar/ works- Neutrality law of US (1913), Ward ship in  international law (1919), Types of restricted sovereignty (1919), Political system in transition (1920), Foreign policy and international law (1968).