The Emerging System of International Criminal Law: Developments in Codification and Implementation

How far has the world come in creating a system of international criminal law? As global society grows ever more interdependent, international crime is increasingly regarded as a serious threat. Now is the time for the international community to produce more comprehensive solutions to prevent, punish & deter crimes under international law. In this book, the author focuses on recent developments in codification & implementation to evaluate prospects for the emergence of a unified system of international criminal law, characterized by broad & coherent material coverage, as well as fair & effective institutional implementation. To this end, he sketches the normative contours of international criminal law by exploring the history, content & legal status of the relevant norms against the background of the work of the International Law Commission. He then surveys patterns in existing means of implementation at both the inter-State & international levels, examining key issues relating to the acquisition of custody over the alleged offender, the role of the extradition system & the use of international criminal tribunals. Finally, the author identifies the essential properties for the emergence of a good system of international criminal law & locates the development & future prospects of this field within the main historical dynamics of international legal cooperation.