International Law in the Face of Absurdity
On this day, 80 years ago, the UN Charter entered into force, just months after World War II had ended.
The world was in ruins, exhausted by war, and there was a sense of relief, hope, and determination to build a system that would prevent such devastation from happening again – through international law.
The Charter was a symbol for humanity’s collective promise to replace war with duties, dialogue and diplomacy.
Today, the gap between this promise and the grim realities seems to widen. Far from being the backbone of an international world order, international law today often appears sidelined, ignored, or instrumentalized.
In light of the irrational behavior of various actors and the large gap between their conduct and the rules of international law, the current situation can aptly be described as “absurd”: contrary to all reason and common sense.
Author summary: International law faces absurdity.