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.
3,695 Articles

Int’l Criminal Court’s Afghanistan Decision Expands Prosecutor’s Power: What to Expect Next
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorized a formal investigation into alleged crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan on Thursday, overturning…

National Security at the United Nations This Week (Feb. 29 to Mar. 6)
Editor’s Note: This is the latest in Just Security’s weekly series keeping readers up to date on developments at the United Nations at the intersection of national security,…

Russian Cyber Attacks Against Georgia, Public Attributions and Sovereignty in Cyberspace
"The attack on Georgia shows the opportunity costs of states not firmly grounding their reactions in the language of international law."

Mexico’s Amnesty Proposal: An Instrument of Transitional Justice?
As violence in Mexico reaches record highs, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has proposed an amnesty law aimed at benefiting individuals accused of involvement in the country’s…

NATO Recognizes Space as an “Operational Domain”: One Small Step Toward a Rules-Based International Order in Outer Space
(Editor’s Note: The absence of a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework for military operations in outer space represents a troubling deficiency in the understanding of…

Iraqi Militias Split Over New Iran-Backed Head, Reflecting Wider Divisions
Understanding the differences among the Hashd al-Sha’abi factions is vital as the organization gains increasing influence in government, including the official Iraqi security…

The Middle East Peace “Vision” From an Old CIA Hand
The most problematic, near-term effect of the Trump administration’s “vision” may be its diminishment of critical behind-the-scenes cooperation between the U.S., Israeli,…

Military Space Operations and International Law
(Editor’s Note: The absence of a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework for military operations in outer space represents a troubling deficiency in the understanding of…

What to Watch For in White House’s Annual Report on Use of Military Force
The report is due Sunday, March 1, and here are the key legal and policy issues to keep a sharp eye on.

National Security at the United Nations This Week (Feb 22-28)
Editor’s Note: This is the latest in Just Security’s weekly series keeping readers up to date on developments at the United Nations at the intersection of national security,…

Norm-Skepticism in Cyberspace? Counter-Factual and Counterproductive
Leading expert on international law and cyber responds to statement by Chief of US Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Gilday on international norms in cyberspace.

After Soleimani Killing, Iran and Its Proxies Recalibrate in Iraq
Understanding the motivations and capabilities of leading Iranian-backed militia units is vital for an effective US and Iraqi response to likely violence in the coming months.