Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about international law & diplomacy.
What exactly is international law?
International law is the body of rules, treaties, and customary practices that govern how states and other actors like international organizations interact with one another. It covers everything from the rights of ambassadors to the rules of armed conflict, and it operates without a single global enforcement authority.
How is diplomacy different from international law?
Diplomacy is the practical art of negotiation, communication, and relationship-building between states, while international law is the formal framework of binding rules those states agree to follow. In short, diplomacy is the process; international law is the rulebook that process produces and relies upon.
What is the United Nations and why is it central to this field?
The UN, founded in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II, is the largest multilateral organization on Earth, with 193 member states and a broad mandate spanning peacekeeping, human rights, trade, and development. For anyone studying international law and diplomacy, the UN's Charter, General Assembly, and specialized agencies form the structural backbone of the modern system.
What is the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations?
Often called the 'diplomacy rulebook,' this treaty codifies the rights and immunities of ambassadors and diplomatic staff, including the principle that an embassy is inviolable. It is one of the most widely ratified treaties in the world and the go-to reference whenever a diplomatic incident makes headlines.
What are the Geneva Conventions?
The four Geneva Conventions of 1949, together with their Additional Protocols, set out the humanitarian rules governing armed conflict—protecting wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians. They are the cornerstone of international humanitarian law and enjoy near-universal ratification.
What does the International Court of Justice (ICJ) do?
The ICJ, seated in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the UN and settles legal disputes between states and issues advisory opinions to UN bodies. It is sometimes nicknamed the 'World Court,' though it lacks the power to compel a state to comply with a judgment.
Where does international law actually come from?
The primary sources, as listed in Article 38 of the ICJ Statute, are international treaties, customary practice backed by a sense of legal obligation (opinio juris), and general principles recognized by major legal systems. Judicial decisions and the writings of leading scholars serve as supplementary means of identifying what the law is.
Who are some of the most influential figures in modern international law and diplomacy?
Names that come up constantly include U Thant and Kofi Annan as UN Secretaries-General, scholars like James Crawford and Nils Melzer, and Dag Hammarskjöld, whose work shaped the modern peacekeeping model. On the diplomacy side, Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, and John Foster Dulles are frequently cited as transformative—and often controversial—practitioners.
How does the UN Security Council work, and why does it matter so much?
The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent seats (the US, UK, France, Russia, and China) each holding a veto, plus ten rotating non-permanent seats. It is the only UN body authorized to issue binding resolutions, including sanctions and the use of force, which makes its internal politics a constant focus for students of the field.
What is the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties?
This treaty lays down the rules for how treaties are made, interpreted, amended, and terminated, effectively serving as the 'law of laws' for international agreements. It is the default framework courts and diplomats turn to whenever a question arises about whether a treaty is valid or what its terms actually mean.