"Law is the essential foundation of stability and order both within societies and in international relations"

Law provides the underlying structure that supports both social cohesion and the peaceful interaction of nations. Without law, societies risk devolving into chaos, as individuals and groups lack any agreed-upon framework for resolving conflicts, allocating resources, or delineating rights and responsibilities. Laws set standards of acceptable behavior, helping to mediate disputes and protect the vulnerable from the arbitrary exercise of power. Through these mechanisms, law creates an environment where stability can flourish, allowing people to build relationships, conduct business, and make long-term plans with confidence that their rights will be respected and their grievances can be addressed through predictable processes.

Similarly, law functions as a stabilizing force in the arena of international relations. The existence of treaties, conventions, and customs provides a set of shared expectations among nations, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings that could escalate into conflict. International law creates channels for negotiation and cooperation, offering states peaceful alternatives to war and retribution. For instance, the United Nations Charter, the Geneva Conventions, and numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements all reflect a collective commitment to order grounded in mutually recognized rules rather than brute force.

When law is respected and applied fairly, it earns legitimacy in the eyes of those it governs, whether individuals within a country or sovereign states in the international system. This legitimacy is crucial: it encourages voluntary compliance and helps prevent the emergence of parallel systems of power, such as vigilantism or rogue states. However, the mere existence of laws is insufficient; meaningful stability and order require both the consistent enforcement of legal norms and the adaptability of the law to accommodate new circumstances and evolving values.

Through its ability to channel competing interests into structured debate and reasoned decision-making, law acts as the bedrock of civil society and global cooperation. It allows for peaceful change and progress, reducing instability by making outcomes more predictable and fair.