Historical Transformation of the International law from Resort to Force to the formation of the United Nations System: Fears and Hopes

This study is intended to investigate the establishment of the use of force until the emergence of the United Nations through a historical approach, and to addresses its defects and challenges. Studying the historical procedure of the use of force from the Middle Ages, as well as the study of the theory of just war up to the advent of the United Nations, demonstrate an evolutionary approach from the unlimited power of states to use force by the nations against one another and their limitations and prohibitions. The main challenge of international law governing the use of force in this era includes the extreme intentional decisions by the states and the dominance of politics and force over international law and peace in the arena of international relationship. During this time, however, the international community witnessed a transition from the principle of the use of force to resolve disputes by the principle of the prohibition of the use of force as a fundamental rule in the relationship among states. The writers believe that, this evolutionary process should be considered as the signs of gradual institutionalization of international law on the use of force in the relationship among states. Accordingly, a relative effectiveness of this branch of law in reducing the use of force in this field. As the imposed war of the Ba'athist regime of Iraq against Iran is an illegitimate use of force against the territorial integrity and invasion of our country, it seems that the historical study of the rules governing the use of force can be quite convenient for a more accurate and complete understanding of the legal norms governing the various perspectives of this important event in the contemporary history of Iran, that is, the eight-year long Holy Defense, protecting our honor, soil and country.