Critically evaluate whether international law is an autonomous source of order or merely an instrument of powerful states pursuing their interests under the guise of legality. Assess the tension between state sovereignty and legal universalism in determining the effectiveness of international cooperation.

International Law Between Autonomy and Power: The Tension between Sovereignty, Legal Universalism, and the Politics of Global Order The discourse on international law has long been animated by a fundamental tension between its normative aspirations and its political realities. As an intellectual and institutional project, international law purports to embody an autonomous order of rules … Continue reading Critically evaluate whether international law is an autonomous source of order or merely an instrument of powerful states pursuing their interests under the guise of legality. Assess the tension between state sovereignty and legal universalism in determining the effectiveness of international cooperation.

How does the functionalist paradigm, encapsulated in the maxim “building peace by pieces,” conceptualize international cooperation as a pathway to sustainable peace, and what are its theoretical foundations, mechanisms of integration, and limitations in contemporary global governance?

Functionalism and the Pursuit of International Peace: "Building Peace by Pieces" in Theory and Practice The functionalist paradigm, most notably captured in the phrase "building peace by pieces," presents a distinct vision of international cooperation that diverges from realist, power-centric models of international relations. Rather than prioritizing military alliances or political federations, functionalism posits that … Continue reading How does the functionalist paradigm, encapsulated in the maxim “building peace by pieces,” conceptualize international cooperation as a pathway to sustainable peace, and what are its theoretical foundations, mechanisms of integration, and limitations in contemporary global governance?