Chapter Outline
13.1 Introduction to International Law
13.2 Sources and Practice of International Law
Introduction
Learning Outcome
•
Explain international law and its role in business.
13.1
Introduction to International Law
In 1945, President Harry Truman stated, “When Kansas and Colorado have a quarrel over the water in the
Arkansas River they don’t call out the National Guard in each state and go to war over it. They bring a suit in
the Supreme Court of the United States and abide by the decision. There isn’t a reason in the world why we
cannot do that internationally” (Cheeseman, 2016, p. 903). Customs, which vary among global communities
and international organizations, are a primary reason why the world cannot pursue such an answer to trade
and commerce dealings. The priorities and aims for Chinese businesses differ from those of Brazil. Each of
those two countries have radically different business perspectives from the United States. For this reason,
international law utilizes customs, treaties, and organizations to guide relationships among nations, with the
goal of allowing each country as much leverage as possible over its own business dealings.
Figure 13.1 (Credit: geralt/ pixabay/ Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
13
International Law