The Long Term Impact of the War on Terror on International Criminal Law

Abstract

The War on Terror’s legal legacy has been a subject of interest for many years now, yet its overall long-term on International Criminal Law (ICL) has yet to be examined in detail. In exploring select cases, this paper hopes to generate initial theories which may then be studied further and lead to detailed discussions on the war’s legal legacy. Findings suggest that ICL has lost legitimacy, been rendered unable to develop properly, and been severely weakened as an enforcement mechanism. This will likely cause problems as the years pass and powerful actors recognize their capacity to act with increased impunity. It is only through assessing the damage that the international community can strengthen and rebuild the law, and this paper hopes to contribute to its ability to do so.