To answer this question requires an examination of whether "World Order" is a means to an end, or a end itself. Thus, does "World Order" refer to the end result to be achieved as a consequence of our actions or is "World Order" the institutional/legal/political framework in which we achieve our aims. For the purpose of this essay, "world order" shall be defined as the institutional, legal and political framework in which global initiatives operate in an attempt to achieve fairer national and international solutions to world problems. In relation to the specific topic of military conflict, this order recognises the inherent weaknesses in human nature and power politics and concerns it self with trying to minimise the occurrences and detrimental effects of conflict, and with regulating conflict when it does occur, for the benefit of all concerned.

In order to determine the effectiveness of world order in dealing with these conflicts, one must first examine the different initiatives that have been established with this purpose and the role of international law. The players in international law are the states, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), regional

Treaties are supported by the underlying principle of customary law that agreements should be honoured. A nation is not bound by a treaty until it ratifies it, thus incorporating either some parts of it, or concepts of it, into its own legislation. An example of such is the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the UN in 1989. However, despite Australia's agreement with its concepts, it did not become law in Australia until it was ratified in 1990, with the Family Law Reform Act. If a nation refuses to agree to a convention, or ratify a treaty that has become binding (ie a certain specified number of nations have ratified it) then sanctions are usually sought by one or more nations to force another to comply with a regulation, agreement or obligation. Sanctions can come in the form of economic and trade, such as the one placed by the USA on Libya over the allegations of harbouring terrorists, and sporting boycotts, such as the one placed on South Africa during the Apartheid era. The third avenue available is the use of political pressure and diplomacy to make a nation reluctant to "lose face" in the global community and hence force compliance with agreements. Unfortunately, there are many limitations on the effectiveness of these avenues. Perhaps the greatest impediment to that effective operation of international law is that which is also seen as its most fundamental concept- sovereignty.

Sovereignty refers to the absolute or independent power by which a nation is governed, an authority which regulates all internal affairs autonomously, without foreign dictation. When a nation agrees to be bound by an international instrument it is in effect giving up some of its sovereignty. However, the very fact that it has sovereignty means that the nation can just as easily withdraw from or breach the agreement without impunity. As Watt (1994:47) states "Sovereign states will obey international law because it is in their best interests to do so, and where their interests are not served they will ignore it". We have seen in the instance of the Jewish expansions into East Jerusalem, that the numerous UN resolutions condemning Israel for its actions, and calls for the cessation of expansion, as well as lobbying by numerous countries, failed to have any effect on the Israeli government. Instead the Israeli government believes itself to be justified in its actions and has continued with its expansions, directly ignoring the UN general assembly's resolutions. The Sanctions that have been placed on Cuba for over 30 years have also failed to weaken the resolve of the Cuban government. However, not all sanctions can be classified as failures, as the recent extradition of the suspects involved with the Lockerby bombings have signalled the end of Libya's defiance and have indicated that sanctions, whilst not always effective, do have some impact.

The formation of the ill-fated League of Nations in 1919 was yet another step towards a global solution to the world's problems. Formed in the aftermath of what was, at the time, believed to be "the war to end all wars", World War One, the League of Nations was established with the aim of preventing another such war taking place and maintaining a global

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