A Strategic Choice: The State Policy Requirement in Core International Crimes. (30th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: CHOULIARAS, ATHANASIOS
• Is Part Of: Leiden journal of international law. Volume 28:Number 4(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 953
• Page End: 975
• Publication Date: 2015-10-30
• Subjects: core international crimes, -- international criminal court, -- international criminal policy, -- state criminality, -- state policy element; International law -- Periodicals; International courts -- Periodicals; 341.05
• DOI: 10.1017/S0922156515000539
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0922-1565

Abstract

Abstract: The article focuses on one of the most intriguing and, at the same time, controversial issues of international criminal law: whether the state policy requirement should be considered as a constitutive element in core international crimes. Adopting a criminal policy perspective, my intention is to contribute to the ongoing discussion by offering a doctrinal and criminological corroboration of the position that answers in the affirmative. Nevertheless, I am not necessarily promoting a normative choice entailing the amendment of the definition of core international crimes, but I rather call for a policy choice of focusing on cases that presume a state policy component.