THE LEGAL POTENTIALS AND LIMITATIONS OF SOFT LAW: EFFECTS, DOCTRINAL COMPARISONS, AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR SOVEREIGNTY AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

Abstract

This study analyzes the legal effectiveness of soft norms and soft law, highlighting their characteristics, reasons for adoption, and impact on International Humanitarian Law and state sovereignty. Through qualitative bibliographic research, the perspectives of authors such as Varella, Cassese, and Helfer are compared, revealing theoretical divergences and historical examples of application. The results show that, despite lacking formal coercive force, these norms exert significant normative and political influence, serving as instruments for legal evolution and the construction of international consensus