LAW: an Overview

Human nature consists of three basic components. These are to 
live, to propagate and to dominate.  If Humanity was left without any 
other parameters, this natural state of existence would govern its 
behavior.  Fortunately, there are parameters that exist.  These 
parameters are law.  The topic of this paper addresses the type of law 
that operates in creating potential boundaries for the behavior of 
states.  This law is called the Law of Nations or international law.  
Patrick Moynihan, a senator from New York, has written a book on this 
subject called On the Law of Nations.  His book argues that states need 
international law to monitor their actions and to maintain order.  He 
also notes the frequent departures states do from  international law.  
This essay will reflect his plea to return to the norms that 
international law provides; it will also discuss and identify the moral 
dilemmas that are present with international law and its relationship 
with states.
	The term "laisser aller" or "letting go" is used by Friedrich 
Nietzsche to describe this state of nature, in which man resides 
absently of law.  His use of the term represents the struggle morality 
wages against nature and reason.  He equates morality in any form, with 
"tyranny and unreason." Nietzsche proposes that man's natural existence 
be, in essence, nihilistic.  Logically, the political entity known as 
the state, created by man will inherit these traits.  Thus, the 
conclusion is that the creation and institution of international law are 
in direct violation to nature.  
	However, international law exists and states "generally" submit 
themselves to it.  . Since most of this law is derived from codified 
norms of states, the term submission can be used. There is a disservice 
committed to humanity when the law is broken, not just to those who are 
weaker in the global community but to the law itself.  A violent raping 
of the law is committed when it is taken in an a la carte form.  The 
constant shifting back and forth from international law to nature 
creates an incoherent system and a basis for calling the reversion to 
the natural state, evil.  In this setting "illegal" unilateral action is 
immoral.  Conversely, the adherence to the law is equally immoral.  This 
conclusion is drawn from the virtue of integrity.  Either have a 
commitment to comply with morality or completely abstain from a 
hypocritical form of servicing the law with words and no conformity.  
Consistency, is an extremely important factor of a system of law.  
	Moynihan argues that the United State has begun to traverse a 
path leading away from its adherence to international law.  "There is 
clear evidence that the United States is moving away from its long 
established concern for and advocacy of international legal norms of 
state behavior."  The implication of the United States' departure is 
extremely troubling.  The decline of universalism in world politics can 
be seen through the example of the United States.  Moynihan has no 
trouble in finding examples in recent history to support  his argument.
	During the Bush Administration two examples are cited of 
unilateral action condoned by the United States, which are violations of 
international law.  The first is the precedent allowing the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation apprehend fugitives of United States law 
anywhere around the world.  This violates the principles of sovereignty 
and jurisdiction.   The second example is the United States' raid on the 
home of the Nicaraguan embassador in Panama.  This clearly violates the 
idea of extraterritorality.  These actions are interpreted to be in 
violation to the very law that the United States constitution promises 
to up hold.  Because of these actions and many others that are 
frequently taking place all around the globe, an underlying disregard 
for law in the international community exists.  One could conclude that 
there is no real international law but international suggestion.    
	 The moral dilemma does not exist in an isolated location, such 
as the United States.  This is a wide spread enigma that confronts 
political thinkers of today.  The existence of an operational universal 
system in a predominated arena of nationalism is nearly impossible.  The 
two systems have been shifting since the Treaty of Westphalia, according 
to Hans Morganthau.  He argues that nations are now "the 
standard-bearers of ethical systems, each of them of national origin and 
each of them claiming and aspiring to provide a supranational framework 
moral standards . . . "  This powerful argument proposes that the 
framework has changed.  There has been a shift from that common ground 
to something self-interested.  The reason for the shift is nationalism. 
  Each state maintains that they have the moral system which should be 
universally accepted; thus, only satisfying that part of the 
international law that is right for them.  This gives us international 
law a la carte and consequently, not a viable system at all.
	International law exists as hybrid system of law.  
Unfortunately, consistency is a problem.  If  this was the case in law 
on a domestic level there are concessions for enforcement.  The 
international community has no such institution nor stipulation for 
uniform compliance to its law.   This creates a dilemma, how can a 
grouping of people whose nature is self-interested behave morally 
without encouragement from a compulsory mechanism?
	 This essay reflects the ideas argued by Patrick Moynihan in the 
book, On the Law of Nations.   Furthermore, it argues the notion of 
morality in the international community, that either there is complete 
surrender to its principles or total abstinence in participation.  
Perhaps one day a solution will arise to successfully solve the dilemmas 
the world faces in obtaining a world of order.  A world where the law is 
not based on mere custom but a legislature empowered to create laws that 
are binding to all states.  Having a system that allows for enforcement 
and interpretation of the law will benefit the now chaotic world that 
hangs on the thread of sanity over the abyss of annihilation.