Like the above poster, and the original post referenced, I find too many ideological issues with an international police force for it to seem like a realistic solution. At my current level of understanding, the anarchic nature of sovereign states still seems to be the best structure (although I am not disparaging the efficacy of international organizations such as the UN, WTO, etc.). This is because I assume there is an inherent belief shared by nation states that their sovereignty is, in most cases, off the table of negotiation.
Additionally, I agree that legal commitments would help increase the efficiency of the ICC. However, perhaps a first step to clarifying the legal relationship and responsibilities of signatories is, as the speaker mentioned, creating a diplomatic arm of the ICC separate from the prosecutor. If done appropriately, this would not be a politicization of the ICC, rather it could serve to clarify, build trust, and understanding of the ICC to states. This could strengthen the ICC's relationship with current members (and thus its efficiency in arrests etc.) and allow non-members to understand the benefit of membership.
David Scheffer
Professor of Law
Comment on the Arrest Lecture Question: “What steps can and should the ICC take to secure the arrest and surrender of indictees?”
Like the above poster, and the original post referenced, I find too many ideological issues with an international police force for it to seem like a realistic solution. At my current level of understanding, the anarchic nature of sovereign states still seems to be the best structure (although I am not disparaging the efficacy of international organizations such as the UN, WTO, etc.). This is because I assume there is an inherent belief shared by nation states that their sovereignty is, in most cases, off the table of negotiation.
Additionally, I agree that legal commitments would help increase the efficiency of the ICC. However, perhaps a first step to clarifying the legal relationship and responsibilities of signatories is, as the speaker mentioned, creating a diplomatic arm of the ICC separate from the prosecutor. If done appropriately, this would not be a politicization of the ICC, rather it could serve to clarify, build trust, and understanding of the ICC to states. This could strengthen the ICC's relationship with current members (and thus its efficiency in arrests etc.) and allow non-members to understand the benefit of membership.