Question

The International Court of Justice came into existence with an eye toward settling disputes between nations. Do you think this is a good idea, do you think it has worked?  

Answer 1

• The idea for the creation of an international court to arbitrate international disputes first arose during the various conferences that produced the Hague Conventions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The court’s primary function is to pass judgment upon disputes between sovereign states. Only states may be parties in cases before the court, and no state can be sued before the World Court unless it consents to such an action.
• International courts are fundamentally ineffective as there are no plausible reasons why compliance with international law will be the top priority for a state. This means that if deemed necessary, states will not comply with international legal standards and will not abide by international law if it is not in their interest.Within the international community, power is often fragmented and dispersed, which is why the lack of a central authority is one of the main criticisms of international law.
• On the other hand, claiming that international courts have never worked and never will seems too extreme. The UN Criminal Tribunals have proved the strength of international accountability, the power of international law, and the consequences of violating them.