Characteristics

The laws which arise from a contractual relationship within a community of identified interests are usually supranational. They hurt the sovereignty of states less because of the gradual evolvement of a community of interests, which tend to override the fears of states and their sensitivities to sovereignty considerations. The solidarities created within these fields are motivated by the desire of heads of state or governments to satisfy the basic needs of the population under their jurisdiction, because in the present system of international affairs there is no single country, no matter how powerful, that is absolutely self-sufficient and independent of other countries. This notion of interdependence, which is the brainchild of Article 55 has found practical application in the establishment of international economic and social arrangements,1 which are gradually creating laws applicable to states and which consequently limit their sovereignty. Within the field of international economic law, which is consequently created through economic diplomatic activities culminating in agreements, the failure of traditional law has become glaringly obvious, because of its voluntarist nature.