The institutionalisation of international law in a multipolar world

This article is based on the keynote delivered at the 14th Annual Conference of the Cambridge International Law Journal. It examines the evolution of the international legal order since the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945, focusing on the development of international law through the proliferation of intergovernmental organisations and the corresponding rise in international law-making. It is suggested that these developments were driven by States’ recognition of the value of international law in addressing global challenges and fostering cooperation, resulting in the creation of multiple intergovernmental organisations, both at the global and regional levels, and law-making activities undertaken within these organisations. The article considers why this is the case and highlights possible pitfalls of such an approach.