Date of Award

Spring 5-19-2023

Degree Type

Honors Thesis

Major

International Studies

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

International Studies

First Advisor

Professor John Zarobell

Abstract

This thesis seeks to outline ways to enforce international law more effectively. Through the analysis of the current international legal framework and the different mechanisms created to enforce international law, it identifies why they are insufficient to enforce international law effectively, and it gives recommendations to ameliorate the way international law is currently enforced. This research focuses on the ongoing war in Ukraine as a case study, and provides specific examples of ways international law was grossly violated by Russia, a U.N. permanent Security Council member, in order to identify patterns in the non-enforcement of international law. To bridge the gap in the literature regarding the conflict in Ukraine, this thesis looks at information from social media, as well as testimonies from people in Ukraine. It identifies the impunity gap and the lack of corporate accountability as the two main areas of focus for the enforcement of international law. The research suggests the implementation of a shared governance model, the creation of more regional organizations, and more cooperation and transparency between national and international legal/judicial systems to strengthen the effective enforcement of international law. Moreover, it proposes to include corporations into the international legal framework to address corporate impunity.

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