The objections of larger nations to the international criminal court

Abstract

This article addresses the principal objections to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by some of the world's larger nations, i.e., China, India, Iran, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America. The purpose of the paper is to outline the major objections of these influential nations and to provide a response to their fears, whether it be to rebut the claims in whole or in part or to point out their merit. The author has arranged these concerns under the following subject categories: sovereignty, effects upon citizens of non-States Parties, Security Council, Prosecutor, war crimes, crimes against humanity, aggression, and the nature of the Court. After surveying and analyzing the principal objections to the ICC, the author concludes that the vast majority of fears are unfounded, while certain concerns are valid.