Cote ICC Blog

 Brian Cote

Professor Shirk

POLS 170

10 March 2022

ICC Blog

I believe that the International Criminal Court's ability to prosecute heads of state is its most persuasive factor in favor of its support. By having the ability to, as well as actually executing such prosecutions twice already in the past, it sends a message to the entire international community that no one person is above or not subjected to the laws of the International Criminal Court. Such projections send a message that every person is on the same playing field when it comes to legal affairs regardless of wealth, status, or political alignment. I also believe that there is another positive way to look at this position. Those opposed to the Western influence often view the ICC as a way for Western powers to punish, humiliate, and condemn those who they were not in alignment with or are different from. That makes the idea of joining an organization such as the ICC very unattractive to non-Westerners. However, with the ICC having the ability to prosecute heads of states, it shows to those not in the ICC that no person is superior to another and that in an ICC court, every human, regardless of their background, are subject to the consequences of their actions, thus tearing down that predetermined notion of a hierarchical power structure. On top of that, it keeps heads of states relatively in check and provides another incentive to obey the rules set by the ICC, which in turn protect people, animals, and the environment. I do believe that this ability to prosecute the world's leaders is an overall benefit to every stakeholder involved, and will likely motivate leaders to rethink their actions, especially in times of conflict.


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