For centuries, sovereign states have regulated their relations – from ending wars and demarcating borders to establishing diplomatic privileges and conducting trade – with treaties. Together, these official agreements comprise international law, which compensates for its lack of specific penalties by establishing strict and unambiguous concepts and one overarching sanction – universal blame for its transgression – that matters to everybody.
几百年来，主权国家用条约约束彼此之间的关系——从结束战争和划定边界到建立外交特权和进行贸易。这些正式协定加起来组成了国际法，国际法通过设定所有人适用的严格明晰的概念和实施制裁——对违反国际法的一致指责——补偿具体惩罚措施的缺乏。