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0 pointsDansvidania2mo ago0 comments

I think it was meant in a "international law is a farce" sort of rhetoric

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Yes. More specifically I would say international law is law in name only. It's not really law at all. It's akin to a child asserting rules on a playground with their peers. There is no enforcement mechanism. In reality what we call international law is more like a mutually agreed upon policy, which can also just not be agreed upon at any moment. In fact many countries do not agree to them. There is no government agency or enforcement mechanism over states - that is what makes them states by definition.

I am always shocked by how controversial this take can be.

DansvidaniaOP2mo ago

It’s complicated. While it’s true that there is no direct enforcement, systems of sanctions and embargos have been used to indirectly enforce these agreements. Whether this is ultimately effective is not obvious, but I think “international law does not exist” is a simplistic take, with all due respect for your opinion (which I understand and partially share)

DansvidaniaOP2mo ago

I doubt we are about to see those mechanisms being used to penalise the US for this latest behaviour though.

I don’t think other UN or NATO states are strong enough to play this game with the US yet.

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nonethewiser2mo ago

>While it’s true that there is no direct enforcement, systems of sanctions and embargos have been used to indirectly enforce these agreements.

Right. These are states organizing to assert their power in their interests. It's not mandated and enforced from some over-arching entity.

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nonethewiser2mo ago

I am always shocked by how controversial this take can be.

DansvidaniaOP2mo ago

I doubt we are about to see those mechanisms being used to penalise the US for this latest behaviour though.

I don’t think other UN or NATO states are strong enough to play this game with the US yet.

1 more reply

nonethewiser2mo ago

>While it’s true that there is no direct enforcement, systems of sanctions and embargos have been used to indirectly enforce these agreements.

Right. These are states organizing to assert their power in their interests. It's not mandated and enforced from some over-arching entity.

1 more reply

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