Diplomatic Strategies, State Compliance, And The Enforcement Of International Legal Norms In An Era Of Geopolitical Tension
- IJLLR Journal
- 10 hours ago
- 1 min read
Dr. Satyabrata Mishra, Assistant Professor, NUSRL Ranchi
ABSTRACT
The contemporary international order is characterised by a deepening disjuncture between the formal obligations of international law and the actual conduct of states. Against the backdrop of a fragmenting rules-based framework marked by great-power rivalry, the erosion of multilateral consensus, and an unprecedented proliferation of interstate conflicts this article examines the principal diplomatic strategies that states deploy to manage geopolitical tensions, evaluates the structural opportunities available for enhancing state compliance with international legal norms, and proposes a framework of reform strategies designed to strengthen state cooperation in the enforcement of international law. Drawing on the doctrine of transnational legal process, compliance theory, and the comparative study of international institutions, the article argues that the enforcement of international law in a multipolar world demands a shift from coercion-centric enforcement models toward architectures that integrate positive incentive structures, domestic legal internalisation, non-compliance mechanisms, civil society engagement, and reformed multilateral governance. The article concludes that sustainable legal order requires political investment in institutional reform rather than retreat from the multilateral project.
Keywords: diplomatic strategies; geopolitical tensions; international law compliance; state cooperation; multilateral enforcement; non-compliance mechanisms; transnational legal process; sanctions; UN Security Council reform; positive incentives
