The hottest International Law Substack posts right now

The current humanitarian situation in Gaza is very severe, with many people suffering from hunger and violence. Calls for urgent humanitarian aid are coming from multiple nations.
There are rising concerns about the use of the term 'rules-based world order,' which seems to prioritize national interests over genuine adherence to international law, especially by powerful countries like the USA.
Ongoing political struggles in Ukraine highlight instability and the manipulation of power, as leadership changes and government restructuring happen amid a difficult military conflict.

Norway's defense budget is set to increase significantly, with every taxpayer contributing around 25,000 NOK in 'war tax' to support military activities. Many in Norway seem to support the military approach without significant opposition.
The United Nations has accused Israel of committing war crimes against Gaza, specifically targeting healthcare systems and personnel. This has led to devastating impacts, especially on children and the overall health infrastructure.
This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to a group advocating for nuclear disarmament, highlighting a contradiction as Norway, a NATO member, continues to support nuclear strategies while claiming to promote peace.

Scientists and activists have been trying for over 70 years to limit or ban nuclear weapons, but they haven't had much success so far.
A new legal approach is being explored by Charles Moxley Jr., who argues that the use of nuclear weapons is illegal based on international law and the effects of these weapons.
Moxley has written a detailed book about this issue, and he hopes that understanding the legal arguments can inspire more people to get involved and advocate for nuclear disarmament.

Small, well-coordinated civil society campaigns can change global norms and push governments to adopt bans by sharing information, applying sustained pressure, and working with sympathetic states.
Fully autonomous weapons that can select and kill targets without human control create grave moral, legal, and security risks, so they should be tightly restricted or banned before they are widely deployed.
Activism is simply taking action: individuals have a responsibility to speak up and act on injustices, and lasting progress needs allies who do more than stay quiet.

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The Kurds proved to be reliable partners in the fight against ISIS and deserve recognition and concrete support, yet Western governments have often prioritized ties with Turkey, Iran, and Iraq over Kurdish rights.
Iraqi Kurdistan functions more effectively than the Iraqi state and has a credible claim to statehood, but geopolitical barriers and security issues prevent full international recognition, so continued institution-building and advocacy are needed.
Turkey's assaults on Kurdish communities expose contradictions in alliances like NATO and underline a wider problem: liberal democracy is fragile and must be defended by strengthening institutions, public knowledge, and direct ties (cultural, academic, and economic) with the Kurds.