International Law
Just Security offers expert analysis of international law and its role in addressing global challenges. Our coverage includes litigation in international and regional tribunals, the process of international law-making, analysis of compliance and accountability for international law violations–including international criminal justice, and challenges to the international legal order.
3,511 Articles

Nestlé & Cargill v. Doe Series: American Courts Do Not Have Universal Jurisdiction Over All Wrongs Everywhere
[Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Just Security series on the consolidated cases of Nestlé USA, Inc. v. Doe I and Cargill Inc. v. Doe I, which was argued before…

On Accountability and the Next Presidency, Starting With the Cabinet
To truly “Build Back Better,” as Biden promised, he must not nominate, appoint, or otherwise hire anyone for his administration who has seriously abused power.

COVID-19 and International Law Series: Human Rights Law – Right to Health
[Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Just Security series, COVID and International Law. All articles in the series can be found here.] Nearly all States have faced significant…

Nestlé & Cargill v. Doe Series: History and Foreign Policy Support Corporate Liability Under ATS
[Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Just Security series on the consolidated cases of Nestlé USA, Inc. v. Doe I and Cargill Inc. v. Doe I, which was argued before…

75 Years Ago at Nuremberg: Giving a Name to Crimes Against Humanity
The world has not come close to ending such heinous crimes, but the trials established the principle that perpetrators can and must be brought to justice.

Nestlé & Cargill v. Doe Series: Mapping Amici Arguments
The Nestlé/Cargill v. Doe litigation has attracted dozens of amici briefs arguing over corporate liability, extraterritorial reach, separation of powers, and the aim of the Alien…

How I Came to Support the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons
For too long, too many people in the U.S. military, in government, and in the general public have not fully contemplated how disastrous using nuclear weapons was and could be.…

COVID-19 and International Law Series: Human Rights Law – Right to Life
[Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Just Security series, COVID and International Law. All articles in the series can be found here.] COVID-19 continues to grow at…

US-Opposed Probe of Colombia’s Uribe Is Essential Step in Road to Peace
Uribe was released under pressure last month, but attempts to thwart transitional justice will only undermine efforts to sustain the 2016 peace agreement.

A Path for Renewing Guantanamo Closure
Although closing the 20-year-old detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) may not be a marquee issue among the many significant challenges Joe Biden will face as president…

The Alien Tort Statute and the Law of Nations: New Historical Evidence of Founding-Era Understandings
In extraordinary original research, David Golove has uncovered contemporary evidence on the original intent of the Alien Tort Statute — evidence which strongly supports its extraterritorial…

Revisiting the Office of Legal Counsel’s Override Opinion
A critical analysis of 1989 OLC Opinion that would allow President to use force in violation of UN Charter and without Congressional support.