public international law: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

In most academic and professional legal contexts, 'public international law' is synonymous with 'international law'. The term 'public' is used for precision to distinguish it explicitly from 'private international law' (which deals with conflicts between national laws in private cases).

Traditionally, sovereign states were the primary subjects. Today, international organizations (like the UN), individuals (particularly concerning human rights and international criminal law), and to some extent, non-state actors like multinational corporations and NGOs, are also considered subjects.

Unlike domestic law, it lacks a central global enforcement authority. Enforcement relies on state consent, reciprocity, diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions, and adjudication by bodies like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to the Statute of the ICJ, the primary sources are: 1) International treaties and conventions, 2) International custom (as evidence of general practice accepted as law), and 3) General principles of law recognized by civilized nations. Judicial decisions and scholarly writings are subsidiary means for determining the law.

The body of legal rules and principles that govern the relationships and conduct between sovereign states and other entities with international legal personality.

Public international law is usually academic, legal, formal in register.

Public international law: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˌɪntəˈnæʃənəl ˈlɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəl ˈlɔː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.