Reflections on the Limits of the Current International System
Greenwell Matchaya LLB PhD Recent events in global affairs have once again brought to the surface a longstanding tension at the heart of the international system: the gap between the principles that govern relations among states and the realities of power that shape how those principles are applied. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-intervention remain foundational norms of international law, reaffirmed in treaties, charters, and diplomatic practice. Yet their practical enforcement appears uneven, contingent, and increasingly dependent on material capability rather than universal restraint. This tension is not new. What is striking is its persistence, despite decades of institutional development, legal refinement, and multilateral coordination. The international system has invested heavily in building rules, norms, and forums for cooperation, yet the recurrence of cross-border interventions, indirect conflicts, and selective accountability suggests that the challenge m...