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The International Criminal Court at the Mercy of Powerful States: An Assessment of the Neo-Colonialism Claim Made by African Stakeholders

The International Criminal Court at the Mercy of Powerful States: An Assessment of the Neo-Colonialism Claim Made by African Stakeholders

Author: Res Schuerch
Publisher: T.M.C. Asser Press
ISBN: 9789462651913
Published In: July 2017
Format: Hardback
Jurisdiction: Netherlands ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

AU$319.00

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Description
Contents

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This book aims to investigate whether, and if so, how, an institution designed to bring to justice perpetrators of the most heinous crimes can be regarded a tool of oppression in a (neo-)colonial sense. To do so, it re-invents the concept of neo-colonialism, which is traditionally associated more with economic or political implications, from an international criminal law perspective, combining historical, political and legal analyses. Allegations of neo-colonialism in relation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) became widespread after the Court had issued an arrest warrant against the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir in 2009.

While the Court, since its entry into function in 2002, has been confronted with criticism from various corners, the neo-colonialism controversy was sparked by African stakeholders. Unlike other contributions in this domain, thus, this book provides a Western perspective on an issue more often addressed from an African standpoint, with the intention of distinguishing itself from the more political and emotive and sometimes superficial arguments that exist within critical legal approaches towards the ICC.

The subject matter will primarily be of interest to scholars of international criminal law or those operating at the intersection of law and politics/history, nationals of African states and from other parts of the world professionally interested and/or involved in international criminal law and justice and the ICC, and governmental and non-governmental organizations. Secondly, the book will also appeal and speak to critical legal scholars and those interested in historical legal analysis. Res Schuerch is a Swiss lawyer specialized in the field of International Criminal Law and the ICC. He previously worked as a researcher at the University of Amsterdam and as an academic assistant at the University of Zurich.

Introduction: The International Criminal Court - Old Wine in a New Bottle?

The Historical Concepts of Colonialism and Neo-colonialism

Introduction Part I

European Colonialism and Neo-colonialism

Legal Colonialism by European States

Imposition of Laws and Western Values in the Field of International Criminal Law

Introduction Part II

The Universalisation of Western Values since the Second World War

The Application of Universal Values in the Field of International Criminal Law

Re-inventing the Concept of Neo-colonialism by Adopting an International Criminal Law Perspective

Introduction Part III

The Issue of Unjustified Asymmetry in the Enforcement of International Criminal Law