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Shaping the Evolution of International Law in View of its Core Effects

Tobias Vestner

International Negotiation: a journal of theory and practice2025https://doi.org/10.1163/15718069-bja10120article
AJG 1ABDC A
Weight
0.37

Abstract

In an international system that is undergoing change, states use international law in a strategic manner. Thereby, they shape the evolution of international law. This article explores how states proceed in this regard. It reviews the role of international law and its strategic use in international politics as well as describes the core effects of international law, namely to constrain, screen, and authorize state behavior. It then examines these effects in terms of the modes that states can use to influence the evolution of international law – agreements and related initiatives, legal positions, state activity, adjudication, and scholarship – and deduces states’ respective strategic options. The article then discusses overarching dynamics and implications for the international legal order. It concludes by arguing that negotiation theory and analysis should give broader attention to the processes that shape the evolution of international law other than by treaty-making.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1163/15718069-bja10120

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@article{tobias2025,
  title        = {{Shaping the Evolution of International Law in View of its Core Effects}},
  author       = {Tobias Vestner},
  journal      = {International Negotiation: a journal of theory and practice},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1163/15718069-bja10120},
}

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Shaping the Evolution of International Law in View of its Core Effects

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Evidence weight

0.37

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.16 × 0.4 = 0.06
M · momentum0.53 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.