The norms of international law define the basic concepts and institutions of international relations, as well as the related rights and obligations of states and international organizations. They contain the definition of the state, its sovereignty, territory, population, and the concept of legal succession of states, their international legal responsibility as a subject of international law. These norms also define the institutions of an international treaty, negotiations, intermediation, international conflicts, peaceful settlement of disputes, representing the methods of implementation of relations between states.
As noted above, there are branches in the system of norms of international law, in which norms related to certain areas of international regulation are grouped.
Diplomatic and consular law regulates the representational relations of states and the rules for servicing citizens and trade and economic organizations abroad.
In the field of international security and disarmament, the norms of international law determine the order and guarantees for the maintenance of international peace.
Maritime law regularizes the regime of maritime spaces and their use.
Law of the air defines the rights and obligations of states in connection with air communication.
Law of outer space determines the probing procedure and exploitation of outer space.
International humanitarian law consolidates and promotes the development of human rights.
A separate branch is made up of norms that determine the order for economic and scientific and technical cooperation between states, international legal protection of the ambient environment, etc.
&2 International law and politics
International law is always inseparably linked with the politics of states. It is a continuation of their policy, fixed for a certain, often very long period, in the form of norms that create a legal obligation for these states to act exactly as they agreed in their agreements.
Throughout the history of international law, it has been based on the principle that the ancient Romans formulated as “pacta sunt servanda” – “treaties must be observed”. In contrast to the situation within the state, where the observance of law is ensured by the state apparatus in international relations, where there is no supranational power, states are forced to take their protection into their own hands when their rights are violated. At the same time, they seek support from other states, interested in maintaining the authority and effectiveness of international law, in order to jointly resort to sanctions or other coercive measures to restore violated rights. Currently, these actions of states are regulated by the UN Charter.