The International Criminal Court and the Boundaries of State Sovereignty: An Exploration into the Enforcement Conundrum
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58342/ghalibqj.V.14.I.3.10Keywords:
sovereignty, state, International Criminal Court, jurisdiction, complementary jurisdictionAbstract
Following the emergence of international crimes in the 19th century, states established the International Criminal Court (ICC) to address such crimes and to uphold international order, security, and peace. However, with the expansion of targeted political interactions among states and the hegemonic ambitions of certain countries, some states perceive the enforcement of ICC rulings as conflicting with their national interests and consequently refrain from implementing them. Examining the non-enforcement of ICC judgments in the international arena is therefore of significant importance. Ensuring international order and security necessitates scholarly investigation into this issue. This study aims to clarify the limits of state sovereignty and examine the jurisdiction of the ICC in order to explore the puzzle of states’ non-compliance with its rulings. Using a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on both library and online resources, the research addresses the question: What are the reasons behind states’ failure to enforce ICC judgments? The findings indicate that enforcing ICC rulings does not violate state sovereignty; on the contrary, it is essential for protecting human rights and maintaining international order. States that fail to comply with the ICC’s Statute and rulings do so primarily due to power-seeking behavior, pursuit of economic gains, lack of effective enforcement mechanisms, and the desire to preserve their political ideologies in international interactions.
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