International Peace and International Law

This article examines the relationship between international law and the pursuit of lasting international peace. It asks whether peace can be achieved through war alone or whether it depends on legal rules, diplomacy, and international institutions. The article uses a qualitative, document-based approach, combining historical comparison with an analysis of relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. It considers the Peace of Westphalia of 1648, the League of Nations after the First World War, the establishment of the United Nations after the Second World War, and the development of UN peacekeeping. The analysis suggests that the end of armed hostilities does not necessarily produce sustainable peace: unresolved grievances, mistrust, and weak mechanisms for cooperation may leave conditions for renewed conflict in place. The UN Charter provides a legal framework for peaceful settlement by requiring states to resolve disputes by peaceful means and to refrain from the unlawful threat or use of force. The article concludes that international law cannot eliminate political conflict, but it offers shared principles and procedures that can help manage disputes and support more durable peace. The study is limited to selected historical examples and legal documents and does not empirically measure the effectiveness of individual peacekeeping missions.