Reflections on the effectiveness of Public International Law

Abstract

Since the beginning of the Russian attacks in Ukraine in February 2022, which constituted a flagrant violation of the prohibition against the use of force (article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations), could it be suggested that international legal norms are ineffective? Would the arguments that question the nature of International Law make a comeback? This article aims to answer both questions and demonstrate that it would be a mistake to ignore the existence of International Law or to insinuate that the international legal system is ineffective.