International law of cooperation and state sovereignty

Viac o knihe

In 1991, following the Cold War, the Walther-Schücking-Institute at Kiel University initiated a series of international symposia titled "international law at the frontiers." These gatherings aimed to analyze the structural changes in the international system and its legal framework due to globalization and political shifts. The proceedings from the fifth conference conclude this series, focusing on the concept of international law of cooperation and the obligations it entails in three key areas: human rights protection, international economic and environmental law, and dispute settlement. The discussions highlight the implications of state obligations to cooperate on the understanding of sovereignty in contemporary international law. While the rapporteurs emphasized the significance of these obligations as guiding principles in international relations, they also noted the challenges in defining their concrete meaning, which must be interpreted in context. The findings suggest that obligations to cooperate impose significant constraints on state sovereignty; however, they do not negate the concept of sovereignty as recognized in modern international law. Instead, sovereignty must be re-evaluated within the framework of international cooperation, which is essential for fostering an International Civil Society governed by the rule of law.