国际关系中自然法的形成与功能

The Formation and Function of Natural Law in International Relations

在国际关系中是否存在着对于国家行为的约束,约束的来源究竟何在,始终是探究国家发展过程中高度关注的问题。而"自然法"是国际实力和国家允诺之外最有争议的一种约束尺度。从国际关系的历史和现实看,自然法作为超越实证规则的判断尺度客观上确实存在,而且对于国家行为具有指引和评判的作用。国际自然法既存在于国际关系宏观的整体框架层次,如威斯特伐利亚范式的自然法、联合国范式的自然法;也存在于中观的国际法某一领域的层次,甚至存在于微观的国际法问题的层次。国际关系中的自然法的启动力量是国家和人的基本生存需求,形成机制则立足于社会的互动,所以自然法并不永恒,它会随着时代的发展而变化。自然法在国际关系中的作用方式是柔性的,它主要通过国际关系各个行为体的舆论评价来决定认同程度,并由此决定国家的国际合作机会、参与国际事务的深度和广度,影响国家的发展步调和进程。因而,对于任何国家而言,认可和重视自然法非常重要。然而,对于崛起大国而言,认识自然法的存在及其功能,要义并不在于去追究自然法的"真义",而在于寻求和构筑国际关系中的道德高点,警惕和避免国际关系中的道德绑架,从而顺应和引领时代的道德潮流,促进本国的顺利、有效发展。

It is of great concern whether there are constraints on state behavior in international relations, and, if there are, what is the source of constraints, in exploring a state＇s development process. ＂Natural law＂ is one of the most controversial constraint scale beyond international power and national commitment. From the perspective of the history and reality of international relations, natural law, as a criterion for judging positive legal rules, does exist and has guiding and judging effects on state behavior. International natural law exists in the overall framework level of international relations, such as the Westphalia paradigm of natural law, the United Nations paradigm of natural law; also exists in the middle level of international law, and even exists in the micro-level of international law. The initiative power of natural law in international relations is the basic needs of survival of states and individuals. The formation mechanism is based on social interaction. Therefore, natural law is not eternal; it will change with the development of the times. The role of natural law in international relations is flexible, it is mainly through the various actors of international relations＇ public opinion evaluation to determine the degree of recognition, and thus determine the State＇s international cooperation opportunities, the depth and breadth of participating in international affairs, affecting the country＇s development pace and process. It is therefore important for any state to recognize and value natural law. However, for rising powers, to understand the existence and function of natural law, the essence is not to pursue the ＂true meaning＂ of it, but to seek and build moral high grounds in international relations, vigilance and avoidance of moral abduction in international relations, so as to adapt to and lead the times of the moral trend, to promote the smooth and effective development of their own.