Definition:

➢ International law or law of nations, the body of legal rules, norms, and standards that
apply between sovereign states and other entities that are legally recognized as
international actors.
British jurist, Jeremy Bentham used the words 'international law' for the first time, in 1780. Since
then, these words have been used to denote the body of rules which regulate the relations
among states.. en used to denote th

➢ According to Bentham's classic definition, international law is a collection of rules

governing relations between states.

In other words, International law is the law of the international community." i.,e. "The rules
regulating international relations."

Following are some of the definitions of international law by different jurists.

➢ According to Oppenheim, "International law is the name for the body of customary and
conventional rules, which are considered legally binding by civilized states in their
intercourse with each other."

Criticism 1. Oppenheim did not include public international organizations in its definition. It is
now generally recognised that not only States but public international organisations have rights
and duties under international law, even though they may not have all the rights and duties that
States have.

Criticism 2. The use of the term civilized States by Oppenheim is also severely criticized.

Criticism 3. It is now widely recognised that international law consists not only customary and
conventional rules but also of general principles of law which were not included by Oppenheim
in his definition.

According to J.G. Starke, "It is that body of law, which states feel themselves bound to observe
and therefore do commonly observe in then relations with each other and, which includes also:

The rules of law relating to the functioning of international institutions or relations with each
other and her rotat organizations, their relations with each other and their relations with states
and 07.05 individuals.

Certain rules of law relating to individuals and. non-state entities so far as the rights and duties
of such individuals and non-state entities are the concern of international community.

Practically it can be said that international law regulate the rights and duties of the states.