International Law
513 Articles

The ICC Wants Justice But Has No Mandate
The recent escalation in the ongoing conflict between the United States and the International Criminal Court (ICC) is as unfortunate as it is predictable, having come to a head…

The Syrian War’s Forcing Effect on International Law
A new book by Scharf, Sterio, and Williams demonstrates how global legal standards have shifted with the increasing complexity of war.

It’s Time Iraq Accepts Legal Responsibility for Its Iran-Backed Militias
Legal reform of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMFs) would have a more durable effect on these hostile militias than a few US air strikes.

Repatriating Foreign Fighters from Syria: International Law and Political Will (Part 2)
The detention conundrum: States rely on non-state groups for counterterrorism operations, but they are simultaneously reluctant to accept the return of terrorists captured and…

Repatriating Foreign Fighters from Syria: International Law and Political Will (Part 1)
Does international law require States to repatriate their foreign fighters?

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…

Iran’s Leaders Preserve the Republic With a Hybrid of International and Islamic Law
The rhetorical strategy allows them to address the world and Iranians at the same time, while passing on different messages.

Top DoD Lawyer Stresses U.S. Compliance with the Rule of Law in Military Operations
On September 3, 2019, Paul Ney, the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), delivered the Charney Distinguished Lecture in International Law at Vanderbilt Law…

U.S. Offensive Cyber Operations against Economic Cyber Intrusions: An International Law Analysis – Part II
Part I demonstrated that the United States is likely to struggle to make a convincing argument that economic cyber intrusions carried out against it breach international law. Consequently,…

Self-Defense in International Law: What Level of Evidence?
With the question of whether Iran's actions justify the use of force, the issue of evidence is once again at the forefront of international debate. So, how much evidence does a…

Deconstructing the Int’l Criminal Court’s Decision on Afghanistan
The decision of the International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber II refusing to open an investigation into crimes committed in Afghanistan establishes a new Rome Statute…

A Congo War Crimes Decision: What It Means for Universal Jurisdiction Litigation in Germany and Beyond
The German Federal Court of Justice, the country's court of last resort in criminal and private law, recently announced its much-anticipated decision in a Congo War Crimes case.…