The problem of ‘murderous’ and ‘aggressive’ regimes—the role of international law and the United Nations

International law, like all legal systems, is at its most basic a system of rules. All societies develop rules to regulate the behaviour of their members. The society of states is no different in this respect. International law does differ, however, in that there is no international government, no central elite laying down rules to be followed and providing for punishment for those who break the rules.