A realistic perspective on international legislation

Jasper Doomen

Leiden University J. Perkstraat 4 A, 2321 VH Leiden The Netherlands.

E-mail:  jdoomen@gmail.com; Phone: 0031 715 278 515

Received 16 March, 2012; Accepted 29 March, 2012

The status of ‘international law’ is examined critically. In the first section, the basis of (national) legislation is described. This consists of an inquiry into a credible meaning of ‘natural law’. It is focused on the question of whether universal principles exist and, if so, of what kind. Section 2 deals with the issue of enforcement. National legislation invariably realizes this, but this is not obvious at the international level. Section 3 deals with human rights. It is discussed whether their presence points to the existence of ‘international law’. To this end, a possible reason for these rights to have developed is expounded.

Keywords: International law, human rights and Legislature