The Concept of Sanction in International Law: Perspective of Political-Realism School

In contemporary century, realism is one of the dominant schools of thought in international relations theory. This theory was being emerged after the World War ll and simultaneously with the establishment of United Nations and has played a significant role in explaining international politics, particularly after the Second World War. The propositions of realism are based on interests and power. In addition, states are considered to be the principal actors in the international arena, which are concerned with their own security and national interests. Considering the increasing progress of societies and the competitive development between governments seeking to gain more benefits, the question arises: how can conflict among global powers influence the international relations and what kind of offering these two schools (Realism and Idealism) have regarding the sanction of international law? In this article using the descriptive-analytical method, we open by exploring history, foundations and fundamental principles of realism, and then examine its role in the sanction of public international law. The findings demonstrate that the emphasis on activism of states is based merely on pursuing national interests, and the compliance of these principles with ethical norms is considered without sanction.