Patrick O'Brian Discussion Forum

Another interpretation of the sneer

There may be people who sneer at the concept of "international law" for that reason, Bātard, but my own sneer (such as it was) at the beginning of this conversation was aimed elsewhere. It's my perception that most people who cite "international law" are talking not about treaties between sovereign nations, and their moral obligation to hold to those agreements, but about an imaginary authority that is over the nations as national governments are over their citizens. I think some people believe that authority to be the UN, and others the "world court" at the Hague; others, probably, have no specific idea what they mean by it. If and when I permit myself to sneer, it's because I still believe in the sovereignty of nations.

On Sat Oct 31, The Last of the True French Short Bastards wrote
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>It has become commonplace for certain groups to sneer at the notion of international law, and as far as I can tell they are really just crypto-imperialists, who secretly believe that America should be able to do as she damn well pleases in the world simply because she is wealthy and powerful....

Sun Nov 1

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