7. International Law
David P Fidler
Overview
- importance of international law
- various subjects of international law key issues in the application of international law to GPGH production
- main sources of international law
- use of international law in production of GPGH limitations of international law in this context
In the national context, governments have primary responsibility for the production and/or finance of public goods. In the international context, however, no central government exists to structure interstate relations, and as such states interact in a condition of 'anarchy'. International law, as "a body of rules governing the mutual interaction not only of states but of other agents in international politics," emerges from this anarchical structure of international relations.The function of international law in international relations is to facilitate interstate cooperation.
This session focuses on international law as a tool in the production of GPGH, describing the importance of international law and its practical and normative elements, the various actors that are the subjects of international law, the main sources of international law, the use of international law in the production of GPGH, a number of limitations in the use of international law in this context, and the key issues in the application of international law to GPGH production.