Elgar Companion to International Criminal Court, Introduction: narratives and counter-narratives of the International Criminal Court

As the world’s first permanent international criminal tribunal, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a pioneering institution. Like many pioneers, the institution has made important achievements and encountered significant challenges. This book provides an overview of the ICC’s first two decades, focusing on the dominant narratives and counter-narratives that have emerged about the institution and its work. Our aim is to contribute to a greater understanding of the ICC’s actual and potential role in the world by exploring some of the central issues related to its creation, mandate, and operations. To that end, the book addresses topics ranging from the negotiation dynamics surrounding the drafting of the Rome Statute, to the roles of the Office of the Prosecutor, judges, defence and victims, as well as key controversies around peace and justice, selectivity of cases and situations, and gender-sensitivity.