CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN INTENATIONAL LAW: RESTRICTING THE USE OF FORCE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS

ABSTRACT :The advantages of universal quest for peace and stability outweigh the advantages of any war. Wars generally result from the heterogeneity of actors in the international scene and a diversity of interests. Wars have brought untold sufferings to societies, lives have been lost, property destroyed, people displaced, and a steady increase in refugee related problems amidst a global food crisis.The use of force in international law leads to other crises such as financial (much money being spent on the military), straining diplomatic relations, etc. In an effort to avoid these wars and promote international peace and security, various media have been employed. Given that the world has evolved from signing of international agreements to refraining from use of force in their relations, organs have been established charged with ensuring that states refrain from the use of force by implementing sanctions to punish those who engage in using force to settle disputes.Force has frequently been applied in resolution of conflicts, certainly, there are other methods of solving problems at the international level before resorting to the use of force. Today, states are encouraged to use force in exceptional cases only and to employ alternative dispute measures, which, if fully exploited, would greatly reduce the use of force, which still remains an imminent threat to the international community. Despite international organs and institutions put in place to ensure the prohibition of the use of force in international relations and the availability of alternative dispute resolution methods, force continues to be used by states for various reasons. The paper attempts to review the use of force in international law, its prohibition and current methods of dispute resolution. A general review of use of force, its prohibition, use of force as an exception and alternative methods of dispute resolutions.