International law

From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

International law formalizes interactions between nation-states, both at the national level and on behalf of their citizens; generally accepted as first formalized by the 17th century Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius (Hugo de Groot). It draws on more specific earlier principles such as just war theory and the doctrine of hostis humani generis for such offenses as piracy; there have been specialized areas such as admiralty law.