国际软法作用和局限之反思

Reflection on the Role and Limitations of International Soft Law

摘要: 20世纪70年代以来，经济全球化使得全球治理在缺乏“世界政府”的前提下成为有效解决全球问题的重要机制。而全球治理的本质，在一定程度上可以认为是“规则之治”。其中，除了传统的国际法规则外，还产生了一类虽然没有直接的法律约束力却可以直接或间接产生法律效果的规范，这种规范被麦奈尔勋爵最早使用“软法”这一概念来概括。作为一种国际规则，国际软法自身“瑕瑜共存”，既有示范、解释、中转、补充和重构的积极作用，也存在权威性不足、结果不确定、加剧国际立法碎片化的局限性。对此，我国要充分利用软法，增强我国在国际法治构建中的话语权，提高我国在国际法治中的地位；同时，也要通过国际软法来指导国内立法，促进国内善治，顺利实现法治建设的目标。

Abstract: Since the 1970s, economic globalization has made global governance an important mechanism to effectively solve global problems in the absence of “world government”. The essence of global governance can be regarded as “rule by rules” to some extent. Among them, in addition to the traditional rules of international law, there is also a class of norms that have no direct legal binding force but can directly or indirectly produce legal effects, which is first summarized by Lord Maynell using the concept of “soft law”. As an international rule, international soft law has its own shortcomings and merits, which not only has the positive role of demonstration, interpretation, transit, supplement and reconstruction, but also has the limitation of insufficient authority, uncertain results and aggravating the fragmentation of international legislation. In this regard, our country should make full use of soft law, enhance our discourse power in the construction of international rule of law, and enhance our position in international rule of law; At the same time, it is also necessary to guide domestic legislation through international soft law, promote good domestic governance, and successfully achieve the goal of building the rule of law.