ABSTRACT
The failure of colonization of Iraq forces the United States to resort to the United Nations for help in mitigating the political difficulties of the situation on the ground, is a hopeful sign that Islamic and other societies may yet forge a positive mutual engagement to realize shared ideals of international law. The chapter presents the legitimacy and efficacy of international law as the indispensable means for realizing universal ideals of peace, development, and the protection of human rights. It strongly emphasizes the importance of the normative underpinnings of international law as the system has evolved during the era of decolonization and self-determination since the second World War. The impressive record of success of international law in the wide range of fields is often overlooked, due to understandable concerns about a few highly visible apparent failures in securing international peace and security.
