Peremptory Norms in International Law; Development or Revolution of Sources of International Law (A Comparative Analysis of National Legal Systems)

Abstract

Contemporary international law introduces a notion of peremptory norms comparable to hierarchy of norms in national legal system. A jus cogens is a norm of international law considered so fundamental that it overrides all other sources of international law. A rule of jus cogens has a specific process of emergence that will be essentially different from other sources of international law which reflected in Article 38(1) of ICJ Statute. Unfortunately, there is not a precise definition of jus cogens norms. The vagueness of the definition and thereby its instances is one problematic issue that harden realization of ideals of the international community.