The International Criminal Court and Organised Violence

This article examines the long-term and short-term effects of all 15 ICC operations by distinguishing between those with and without great power military resources associated with the intervention. The findings suggest that ICC investigations are significantly associated with reductions in fatalities from organised violence, equally in the short and long term. There is an inverse association between resources of deterrence and the reduction of violence: the higher the level of deterrence, the less violence is reduced. To make sense of this, we present illustrative case studies that demonstrate how the ICC’s pursuit of justice can reduce violence–provided this pursuit is grounded in cooperation and dialogue, rather than imposition and deterrence. The findings of this study are significant for their support of the theory of less power-centric, relational, and cooperative conflict management. They also hold practical significance for policymaking regarding when and how to employ the ICC to mitigate organised violence.