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.
3,708 Articles
The “Shift Cold” Military Tactic and International Humanitarian Law
New technology allows for new military tactics in urban warfare. Legal questions have been raised about a military practice--called "shift cold"--in which an operator redirects…
UN Releases Guidelines for Team Investigating ISIS Crimes in Iraq
Back in September, we covered the establishment by the U.N. Security Council of a novel "Investigative Team" to investigate international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity…
Microsoft Ireland: Extraterritoriality Step Zero
United States v. Microsoft is a fascinating case because it appears at the cross-roads of so many different areas of the law—the Fourth Amendment, criminal law, data privacy,…
“Reasonable Certainty” vs “Near Certainty” in Military Targeting–What the Law Requires
Former deputy legal counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commander (ret.) Mike Adams and former Special Counsel to General Counsel of the Dep’t of Defense, Ryan…
The United States Can – And Should – Prosecute the Killers of US Journalists and Aid Workers in Syria
Two formerly British ISIS combatants who are suspected of murdering three US citizens are now in US allies’ custody. The "ISIS Beatles" can and should be tried in US federal…
Episode 59 of the National Security Law Podcast: Share the Cookies
We don’t lack for topics this week! In today’s episode, Professor Chesney and I eat a number of cookies while talking about the following: Rachel Brand steps down at DOJ. …
Al-Alwi and the Unraveling of Detention Authority at the End of Active Hostilities
Last week, President Trump issued a new executive order reversing the 2009 executive order that had ordered the closure of detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and re-asserting…
Japan’s Definition of Armed Attack and ‘Bloody Nose’ Strikes Against North Korea
There has been an important discussion in the last couple of weeks over the legality of possible limited strikes, part of a so-called “bloody nose” strategy, by the United…
What Should the International Community Do to Address Impunity in Bangladesh?
On March 23, 2010, Bangladesh ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), making it the first South Asian State to do so and the 111th State Party to the…
The Internationalists Mini-Forum: The Next World Order – Non-State Armed Groups and International Law
(This piece is the latest of several on Just Security examining The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World, written by Just Security editorial board…
Episode 56 of the National Security Law Podcast: The State of the Uniom Is…ExStravagant!
You might not want to watch the State of the Union tonight, but don’t miss this episode of the podcast! This week we cover: The missing Russia sanctions? A statute enacted…
Collective Self-Defense and the “Bloody Nose Strategy”: Does it Take Two to Tango?
The Japanese people and their government have reason to be nervous. Last year, North Korea conducted two ballistic missile tests over Japan. If that was not enough, the U.S. Government…