The Indeterminacy in International Law and Its Causes

Abstract

This paper discusses an issue that is often avoided in the field of international law studies, namely, the indeterminacy of international law. The so-called indeterminacy of international law, i.e., international law often fails to give a clear answer to specific questions, the paper firstly describes the specific manifestations of this indeterminacy, and then explores the reasons for its emergence from both internal and external levels. The paper argues that the non-jurisprudential and non-binding nature of international law, as well as its profound influence by international politics, determines its indeterminacy. In addition, the ambiguity of the language of international law itself exacerbates the tendency of indeterminacy in international law.