Zalmay Khalilzad on Middle East Tensions
American Society of International Law - American Society of International Law
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad speaks on the politics of international law.Politics and policy are interwoven with international law. The relationship between the two is reciprocal. While politics influence international law, international law also influences domestic and international politics.Critics contend that international law is really the deployment of power politics, and that resolving disputes under the auspices of international law in a judicialized forum serves only to "launder" the rule of the powerful.Admirers of internationalism and international institutions, on the other hand, contend that the legalization of power has a civilizing effect that leads to some of the most effective forms of law-making, ranging from good governance standards promulgated by the IMF or the World Bank to sanctions imposed under Security Council authority - The American Society of International Law