Open AccessRealism in International Legislation
Author(s) -
Jasper Doomen
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the irish journal of public policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2009-1117
DOI - 10.33178/ijpp.4.1.3
Subject(s) - legislation , section (typography) , meaning (existential) , law , enforcement , political science , human rights , international law , realism , natural (archaeology) , law and economics , sociology , epistemology , business , philosophy , geography , archaeology , advertising
The status of ‘international law’ is examined critically. In the first section, the basis of (national) legislation is described. This consists of an inquiry into a credible meaning of ‘natural law’. It is focused on the question whether universal principles exist and, if so, of what kind. Section 2 deals with the issue of enforcement. National legislation invariably realizes this, but this is not obvious at the international level. Section 3 deals with human rights. It is discussed whether their presence points to the existence of ‘international law’. To this end, a possible reason for these rights to have developed is expounded.