What is the author's central claim?
International law is often dismissed as toothless because no world police force stands behind it. The dismissal confuses enforcement with effect. Most domestic law is obeyed without any officer present, because people expect others to obey it and because breaking it carries reputational and practical costs. Treaties on shipping, aviation and trade are followed for similar reasons; states that ignore them find their ships and aircraft refused entry and their goods refused markets. Where the law fails is on the great questions of war and security, in which a powerful state may judge that the cost of breach is lower than the cost of compliance. It is a mistake to infer from these cases that international law is without force in all the others.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: E. International law has real effect in many areas even though it lacks a central enforcer
- Step 1: The first sentence rejects the 'toothless' view, then the passage explains how law works without a police force.
- Step 2: The last sentence limits the failure to war and security.
Answer
International law has real effect in many areas even though it lacks a central enforcer.
Why not the others: War and security are where the author says the law often fails, a police force is said to be unnecessary, fear of force is not the only reason for obeying treaties and domestic law is obeyed mostly without officers.
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