The “Monster That We Need to Slay”? Global Governance, the United States, and the International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court is a new mechanism for the global governance of human rights that enjoys broad support from a large number of states. The United States expressed its hostile opposition especially in the early years, claiming that the ICC was harmful to US national interests. This attitude toward the court changed over the years, and a more pragmatic approach toward the ICC is now discernible. The United States had to acknowledge that actions taken in opposition to the ICC began to be harmful to its own national interests and it also realized the national interest utility the court has despite the deep-seated opposition to the concept of supranational sovereignty. This article looks at the reasons for opposition by the United States, its initial hostile position, and changes in the US approach toward the ICC.