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.
3,764 Articles

Ratko Mladić Is Dead, Yet Legions Mourn This “Butcher of Bosnia” and Celebrate His Crimes
Thousands mourned Ratko Mladić at his funeral in Belgrade despite his responsibility for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

The Int’l Criminal Court as a “Strategic Weapon”: Legal Deterrence, Cognitive Advantage, and the Future of the Rule of Law
States committed to the rule of law can use the International Criminal Court to maximize the cost of adversaries' military aggression.

The Case for a German Structural Investigation into Crimes against Humanity in Iran
Experts argue that Germany should open a structural investigation into Iran's December 2025 and January 2026 crackdown on protesters.

Why Countering the Assault on the International Criminal Court is Necessary to Protect the International Legal Order
Current and former Presidents of the ICC's Assembly of States Parties on the role of the Court in upholding the international legal order.
Just Security Podcast: Has the United States Violated the Law of Armed Conflict in the Iran War?
Host Ryan Goodman is joined by an expert panel to discuss whether the United States has violated the law of armed conflict in its war against Iran.

Civil Society Donors Should Heed the Risks of FATF Grey List-Induced Panic
The Financial Action Task Force's designations of countries to thwart terrorism financing more often result in governments suppressing civil society than in real reform.

Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers, Operation Southern Spear, Operation Absolute Resolve
Collection of expert analysis on the legality of the U.S. strike on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, the consequences of the strike, and related issues.

Expert Backgrounder: What to Watch for at This Week’s Pivotal International Meeting on Autonomous Weapons
A United Nations gathering this week could prove pivotal for the international governance of lethal autonomous weapon systems.
The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part VI
Tess Bridgeman and Rachel Goldbrenner are joined by Brian Finucane and Rebecca Ingber to discuss the latest U.S. strikes against suspected drug traffickers.

A Sentence in Damascus and An Accused in Moscow: The Limits of Syria’s First Attempt at Accountability
Bashar Al-Assad's in absentia conviction represents a milestone in Syria's justice system, but the trial was plagued by glaring problems.

Why the Trump Administration is Pushing States to Quit the ICC, and How Member States Can Push Back
States parties should use the United States’ bid for support in its fight against the ICC to push back on Washington’s attempt to dismantle the Court.

Experts Declare International Law Principles Supporting Women’s Resistance to Gender Apartheid
A declaration signed by leading international law and human rights experts calls for codifying gender apartheid as a crime against humanity and outlines key principles.