International criminal law and politics: Legal standards vs. Political considerations

The International Criminal Court has been operating for one decade. This anniversary offers a good opportunity to take stock of current international criminal law (ICL) in the context of world politics. More specifically, this investigation looks at the issues concerning individual accountability of state leaders and in particular in times of democratic transition. The broader question which will structure the discussion is whether to prioritize International Criminal Law over political considerations. I argue that there is a need to allow for political considerations to have a more prominent role at times. I suggest that alternatives to the strict application of ICL, such as truth commissions, amnesties, or even exiling individuals would allow for the principle of attributing individual guilt to be upheld without precluding the political concerns in the transitioning country to be heard.

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