The Limits of International Law in Deterring War Crimes

Powell, Sophia

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/133322 Copy

Description

Title

The Limits of International Law in Deterring War Crimes

Author(s)

Powell, Sophia

Issue Date

2026-04-14

Keyword(s)

• International
• law
• war
• crimes
• treaties
• UN

Date of Ingest

2026-05-23T14:43:16-05:00

Abstract

As a result of the 20th century’s most devastating conflicts, the international sphere decided to implement frameworks to prevent and punish future war crimes. This led to the creation of programs like the International Criminal Court and Geneva Conventions, as well as ad hoc tribunals in countries like Yugoslavia and Rwanda, as a way to codify humanitarian norms and hold perpetrators accountable. These institutions reflect a moral commitment to establishing individual criminal responsibility under international law as a way to protect citizens, but the question is: does international law truly deter war crimes? This research surveys the inconsistencies between the legal frameworks designed to deter war crimes and its lack of enforcement in practice. While international courts have prosecuted war criminals like Thomas Lubanga and Radovan Karadžić, the enforcement of these frameworks relies on state cooperation and will. Major powers like the U.S. and Russia can shield themselves or their allies from direct ICC jurisdiction, which produces a two-tiered system of accountability that weakens deterrence and undermines the credibility of international law. This issue is globally significant because everyday civilians are the main victims when legal deterrence fails, rather than governments. The effectiveness of international law also not only shapes post-conflict justice, but also guides the future behavior of states. This problem is addressable through policy reforms that strengthen enforcement instead of expanding legal norms, such as expanding ICC cooperation mechanisms and increasing the diplomatic and economic consequences for countries who display noncompliance, like sanctions or asset freezes. Some of the key stakeholders include national governments, international institutions like the UN, human rights organizations, militaries, and most critically, civilians in conflict zones. International law’s effectiveness in deterrence will always remain limited without more consistent enforcement.

Type of Resource

Poster

Genre of Resource

conference poster

Language

eng

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