百年未有之大變局下國際法功能的時代要義

The Epochal Essence of the Function of International Law under Profound Changes Unseen in a Century

百年未有之大變局下，有效實現並完善國際法的功能是國際法理論與實踐的基礎命題。國際法的功能根植於法的一般功能，同時還包括維護和平狀態、防止非法訴諸武力，促進國際合作、構建政策協調機制，促進共同體認同、實現共同體利益等基本內容。作為調整國際關係和構建國際秩序的規範基礎，國際法的產生與發展受到國際關係現實的深刻影響。當前，國際社會的結構趨向多元化、治理需求趨向複雜化、國際社會法律關係處於動盪狀態。從現實的維度看，國際法呈現出新的功能定位：建構國家身份的重要載體、維護國際秩序穩定的壓艙石、全球治理赤字的填補器、開展國際法律鬥爭的重要媒介。中國應當充分發揮國際法功能，通過協調運用國際法的內容和方式、促進國際法與國內法的交互支撐、探索彌補國際法功能的局限、正確處理國際法守正與創新的關係等，不斷提高運用國際法的能力與水平，以有效應對各種挑戰與風險，推動全球治理體系變革。

Effective realization and improvement of international law’s functions are basic propositions in theory and practice in a time of profound changes unseen in a century. General functions of law underpin the functionality of international law, whose basic contents include maintaining peace, preventing illegal resort to force, promoting international cooperation, constructing policy coordination mechanism, promoting community identity and realizing community interests. The emergence and development of international law, which is the normative foundation of adjusting international relations and constructing international order, is deeply influenced by the reality of international relations. Under profound changes unseen in a century, the structure of the international community is increasingly diversified，the demand for governance is becoming more and more complicated，and the legal relations of the international community is always in the state of turbulence. From the perspective of reality, international law presents a new functional orientation as an important carrier for building national identity, a“ballast stone”for maintaining the stability of international order, a“gap-filler”for global governance deficits, and an important medium for international legal struggles. China should fully explore the functions of international law by coordinating the contents and methods of applying international law, promoting the mutual support between international law and domestic law, exploring ways to make up for the limitations of the functions of international law, and correctly handling the relationship between carrying on its past achievements and making innovation in international law. These efforts can constantly improve China’s ability and level of applying international law so as to effectively respond to various challenges and risks as well as to promote the transformation of the global governance system.