The Use of Force and Self-Defense in the International Law

Abstract

The paper aims at analyzing the international legal aspects of the use of force; adducing the role and functions of the UN Security Counciland the General Assembly in preserving international peace; illustrating impediments resulted from the application of right to veto by theUN Security Council permanent members in the course of decision making process in the Security Council; demonstrating the differencebetween threat to peace and armed attack, whether the use of force is justified in cases of threats to peace; what are the criteria for the rightof defense; defining the criteria of necessity and proportionality of the use of force; whether armed attack from a non-state actor couldserve as grounds for exercising a right of self-defense; determining the act of aggression within the scope of international law; based onthe legal aspects of the use of force and criteria for it, author explores the Russian aggression against Georgia.