International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world’s first permanent body established to prosecute [Page 872]genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. The creation of the ICC was the result of decades of advocacy and campaigning by human rights activists, compromises between nation-states, and transformations in the international political order. The hope attached to the ICC is that a permanent court, capable of prosecuting the most powerful perpetrators on the planet, will prevent future atrocities. The ICC’s jurisdiction theoretically extends to the entire globe but in practice is subject to intense geopolitical power. The ICC must also navigate complex relationships with nation-states and the local communities most directly affected by extreme violence. The ICC is an intensely interesting phenomenon from a geographical perspective. It ...