International Law

International law is a body of laws, rules, and principles that governs behavior between sovereign states, international organizations, and certain individuals. International law operates within the context of the international legal system and is dominated by the principles of sovereign equality, mutual consent and equality, the impossibility of force or coercion, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. International law differs from national law in that it sets general standards of behavior for countries rather than specific laws for individuals and entities. National laws are enacted under domestic legal systems by legislatures or authorized courts, while international law is not. International law is also different from national law because it is not enforced directly by a single, centralized authority. Rather, governments, national authorities, and international bodies cooperate to ensure the enforcement of international agreements. Additionally, international law is intertwined with public international law, private international law, and supranational law. Finally, international law does not have a single source that applies over all countries; instead, it is based on a body of bilateral and multilateral treaties, international agreements, and customary international law (CIL). CIL consists of established state practices that have become legally binding.