International Law Archive

The political unrest that has gripped Syria over the past year, and the sanctions that resulted, have had a devastating impact on the country’s economy. Sanctions by the U.S. and the European Union have targeted members of the Syrian government, frozen international banking transactions and halted Syrian oil exports. And the resulting economic decline, which is just beginning to make headlines, has major implications not only for the Syrian government, but also for the Syrian people. Ayesha Sabavala, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editor and economist for the Middle East and North Africa, explained that as the economy declines, the likelihood […]

In July 2012, the United Nations will meet in New York to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The new treaty would establish international standards to regulate the legal trade in small and major conventional arms. On the one hand, the treaty is groundbreaking in its global reach, inclusion of human rights criteria and widespread state support. On the other hand, even after years of preparatory talks, questions about whether negotiations will produce a meaningful and effective document persist. The Problem and the Challenge Conventional weapons present policymakers with a dilemma. They are the building blocks of military and police […]

On Jan. 17, the Obama administration announced its intention to support a diplomatic initiative to strengthen international norms protective of the global commons of outer space. Key norms in need of strengthening include the mitigation of space debris, especially debris produced by antisatellite (ASAT) tests; the elaboration of rules for space traffic management; and the development of procedures to increase the safety of satellite operations and human spaceflight. The Code of Conduct for responsible space-faring nations that President Barack Obama seeks would take the form of an executive agreement reflecting voluntary measures, rather than a treaty. Space diplomacy is rarely […]

With the emergence of cyber conflict as an increasingly important concern of policymakers, the possibility is sometimes raised that nations could enter into arms control agreements of some kind to reduce the likelihood that such conflict will occur and/or to reduce or limit the damage that any such conflict might inflict. Advocates of such agreements suggest that they would enhance the cybersecurity posture of the United States. Nonetheless, there are many challenges that stand in the way of reaching such agreements, and progress toward such agreements may well be slower than some observers would like. In the 21st century, information […]

BELGRADE, Serbia — European Union foreign ministers this week approved Serbia as an official candidate for EU membership, paving the way for EU heads of government to confirm the decision at a summit yesterday. But though good news for Serbia and a European project intended to embed democracy and stimulate economic development, while bringing to an end to the cycle of European wars, the approval is just the beginning of what will be a long and challenging road. EU accession is unlikely to come before 2020, and, as is abundantly clear from the experience of Serbia’s neighbors, it is no […]