ABSTRACT
The neutrality of international law was a pretence that shielded the fact that it enabled the imposition first of imperial rule through the use of force and then through the use of theories and mechanisms overtly neutral but designed to continue the dominance of the powerful states. The inequality between states and the peoples of the world was maintained through principles of international law. A series of arbitral awards involving petroleum disputes had considered the existence of an international law that applied to concession contracts involving petroleum resources. The impact of the work on sources of international law was significant. Power-based international law brought about asymmetric relationships which had to be explained to the constituency for acceptance. The economic reasoning behind the law was supported by the World Bank.
