What role does international law play in relations between states?

International law serves as a crucial framework for the conduct of state affairs, guiding the interactions between nations and shaping the rules around diplomacy, trade, conflict, and human rights. It establishes norms and principles that states are generally expected to follow, promoting stability and predictability in international relations. This framework allows states to negotiate treaties, resolve disputes, and collaborate on global challenges, such as climate change, while adhering to agreed-upon laws and standards.

The other options do not accurately capture the broader role of international law. While international law can provide mechanisms for arbitration, it does not create binding arbitration for all nations uniformly. The permissiveness of intervention in domestic affairs is a contentious aspect of international law, often requiring widespread consensus or specific conditions, rather than being a general permission. Lastly, while international law does impose certain restrictions on state behavior, its primary function is to provide guidelines rather than outright limitations on state power. Thus, the emphasis on providing a comprehensive framework for state interactions accurately reflects the vital role that international law holds in global relations.