International law at the dawn of the twenty-first century has evolved into a vast and complex field, far surpassing its earlier scope and significance. As the passage illustrates, it has grown from a relatively manageable set of rules governing state relations to a massive branch of law that touches nearly every aspect of cross-border human activity.
Judge Higgins’s quote aptly captures this transformation, contrasting the once “finite and ascertainable subject matter” with today’s “vast” corpus of international law that continues to expand indefinitely. This growth reflects the increasing interconnectedness of global society and the need for legal frameworks to address a wide array of international issues. The breadth of topics now covered by international law is staggering, ranging from seemingly mundane matters such as cheese naming conventions to critical global concerns such as the regulation of nuclear energy for both military and peaceful purposes.
This expansive reach demonstrates how integral international law shaped and governed worldwide interaction. The text emphasises that the field has grown beyond what even the most capable jurists can fully comprehend, highlighting both the richness of the discipline and the challenges it presents to practitioners and scholars. Furthermore, the assertion that a response of “no rule of law” (non-liquet) is unacceptable underscores the expectation that international law should guide on virtually any cross-border issue that arises.
This comprehensive coverage and ongoing expansion of international law reflect its crucial role in our globalised world, while also hinting at the complexities and potential difficulties in navigating and applying such an extensive body of legal principles across diverse global contexts.