Why America Does Not Suscribe to External Laws
Autor: Lukas Podolski • October 11, 2017 • Term Paper • 355 Words (2 Pages) • 824 Views
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International Relations
Despite the fact that the United States is at the forefront in advocating for human rights and democracy throughout the world, it does not comply with international agreements or subscribe to any higher form of law. The decision by the US not to comply with international law and agreements can be attributed to a number of factors.
The first reason why the United States of America does not subscribe to any higher form of law or comply with international courts is because of American exceptionalism; the belief that America is superior and unique compared to any other country. Based on this ideology, the American legal system is way better than any other legal system in the world (Forsythe et al. 23). Therefore, subscribing to foreign laws would diminish America in the eyes of other countries and threaten its position as a world leader.
The other reason why America does not subscribe to international courts revolves around the belief that the country has a defined duty to promote freedom throughout the world. In fulfillment of this mandate, the United States has initiated wars against countries suspected of sponsoring state terrorism without satisfying the requirements of the just war theory. Hence, the US feels that subscribing to foreign laws would make the country a target because of its previous military engagements.
In conclusion, the failure to subscribe to any higher form of law does not taint the image of the United States as a world leader. The country’s image would not be tainted because other countries with nuclear capabilities like Russia, China, and India are also not members of the International Criminal Court. This ensures that the country is not vulnerable as far as its ability to respond to external threats is concerned.
Work cited
Forsythe, D.P., Charles J. Mach, David P. Forsythe, and Patrice C. McMahon. American Exceptionalism Reconsidered: U.S. Foreign Policy, Human Rights, and World Order. Taylor & Francis, 2016.
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