Interviews
An Existential Threat? – In Conversation with Christoph Flügge
The role of international courts presents distinct and complex challenges compared to other judicial areas. Since the enforcement of judgments relies on the willingness of states to cooperate, international criminal law has primarily been applied against weaker states on the global stage. An international court seeking to act against representatives of strong – western – countries in the international sphere faces a difficult dilemma. On one hand, the law must apply equally to everyone. A court that fails to uphold this principle risks losing its legitimacy. On the other hand, a court that alienates powerful states risks rendering its judgments ineffective or even jeopardizing its own existence. This is illustrated by the events following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of arrest warrants for Hamas and Israeli leaders. Numerous Western politicians harshly criticized the ICC’s efforts to hold representatives of their ally, Israel, accountable for [...]
18.02.2025
