The Binding Status of International Treaties and Conventions on Sovereign States

ABSTRACT

The concept of sovereignty of states has been a matter of much controversy among legal scholars and practitioners. This is as several states have over the years, strived to foster better international relations (diplomacy), with others, as well as reputable international organisations, in order to ensure economic viability and political stability amongst the larger global community, even in the face of maintaining territorial sovereignty. However, traditional international law norms, mechanisms and arrangements, are insufficient to deal with the problems posed by the imbalance of implementing treaties, as well as maintaining the status of sovereignty a state possesses. Thus, one often wonders if this seemingly attractive method of maintaining global economic viability and political stability will not amount to neo colonialism, since most times, a failure to enforce these international treaties by sovereign states would most likely lead to grave economic sanctions, as well as strained diplomatic relationships, coupled with the fact that these international organisations are usually headed by the western countries. Thus, the question left unanswered is, what would be the fate of third world countries that are signatories to treaties with the world super powers (advanced countries), as well as these international organisations