International criminal justice is at a crossroads. On the one hand, we now have an unprecedented ability to prosecute individuals accused of torture, genocide, and crimes against humanity both domestically and internationally, emblematic of the extent to which these kinds of prosecutions have become normalized over the last 70 years. On the other hand, more and more countries have raised concerns about the efficacy and fairness of international criminal prosecutions, arguing that they are selective or neocolonialist, biased or myopic. This is exemplified by the complex status and reception of the International Criminal Court, alternately lionized and criticized. This module introduces you to these debates and examines the legal and philosophical underpinnings of international criminal law and justice.

Key topics in this course will be:

• The development of the laws that govern international criminal justice, including detailed study of the laws against torture, genocide, crimes against humanity, and aggression.
• The philosophical and historical origins of international criminal justice.
• The courts and tribunals that adjudicate these kinds of crime, including the International Criminal Court.
• The key challenges facing the greater implementation of these kinds of criminal prosecutions, including the role of politics and of the international community, and questions of sovereignty and human rights.

Learn more at Queen Mary’s website