International law Quote by Noam Chomsky
““The reasoning throughout is straightforward, and is in full accord with what Bush calls “new thinking in the law of war,” which takes international law and treaties to be “private contractual rules” that the more powerful party “is free to apply or disregard as it sees fit”: sternly enforced to ensure a safer world for investors, but quaint and obsolete when they constrain Washington’s resort to aggression and other crimes.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda, 1989
The quote critiques how powerful nations treat international law as optional, applying it only when convenient and ignoring it when it limits aggression.
In simple terms: Powerful states bend law to their interests.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge selective legal enforcement.
Themes
politics
law
power
ethics
propaganda
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- diplomatic negotiations
- human rights advocacy
- policy analysis
- academic research
Key Concepts
realism
legal relativism
hegemony
Questions to Reflect On
- How does selective law enforcement affect global justice?
- What mechanisms can ensure accountability for powerful states?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook instances where law does constrain powerful actors.
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