After several analyses of the topics proposed, the conclusion is that the research methods that the thesis will use are multiple and interconnections between them are crucial for the positive delivery of the research questions. By using the historical method, the context of various international law breaking episodes is better understood as this has a huge value for the decision of a certain country. In a different historical context, the same country could chose to respect international law even if its interests and long-term strategies would be the same as in a negative example. This is also very visible in cases of countries that have changed their socio-economic strategies not as a result of their IMF or World Bank accords, or due to their commitment to a UN document, but because the historical context allowed for various sacrifices to be made. Also, by using the historical method in connection with the analytical methods the following chapters will bring significant results in the evolution of certain states as a cause of abiding or not the international law. As many of the examples will show, countries that did not follow through with their international commitments have either restricted themselves in a weak and isolated position from the rest of the world, or have continued their evolution as superpowers.
Another method of research that the paper will use and that is of high importance is the combination of statistical and case studies methods. Several countries' examples will be used in the statistical correlations leading to an answer regarding a pattern of international law breakers. Strong and weak states are often seen as the main challengers yet the literature does not offer a clear answer to the question above. The use of data can be done by using various statistical software that will show the level of correlation between the high or low position of a state on a combination of rankings from certain periods of time. Ideally, the longer the period of time analyzed, the better and more reliable will such results be. The...
Strong and weak states in a purely economic calculus will not be valuable to this paper as the analysis reflects little on behavior regarding international law. In the same time, a strong-weak positioning on military spending, number of population or human development are insufficient in delivering a complete array of elements that make up strong and weak states in relation to international law. Therefore, the statistical methodology will have a variable that will not be necessarily observable, but will be deducted from a series of reports on less numerical issues like democracy, world influence or global awareness. After answering the question regarding the weak-strong states correlation with break of international law, the use of the case studies and statistical methods will be very useful in addressing several issues related to the influence that global laws have on the evolution of states and their behavior within their countries and on the international arena.
A method of questioning similar to "If A breaks the law, can B. break the law to stop A from continuing to break it?" could also be used in the paper to asses the level of states' reaction in face of severe violations of human rights or aggression towards another state. In a normative discourse, A should not break the law, and B. should not be in the situation to break the law, yet in the world of international politics, a flaw might appear in using the statistical models of analysis. Some situations might require breaking the international law for the same reasons for which it was created, so the thesis will also have to pay attention to what states that violated international accords or regulations argued for. Therefore, a combination of historical-statistical-case studies methods will have to be used in any further analysis of this topic as viewing this issue from various levels will offer better and clearer answers.
