ABSTRACT
International human rights norms and accountability: the German evolution in attitude and behavior
Strong leadership role in negotiations and support for a strong court
Germany’s record on ICC commitment and compliance
Germany and the ICC: assessing the explanatory power of the credible threat theory
Conclusion
This chapter traces Germany’s decision to commit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the role the court’s strong enforcement mechanism played in influencing Germany’s ratification behavior. Germany is like the United States in that it is a powerful, wealthy democracy with generally good human rights practices and domestic institutions that follow the rule of law. 1 However, unlike the United States, Germany took a leadership role by pushing for a strong and independent ICC. It also promptly signed and ratified the ICC treaty, and it has been a leader in encouraging other states to ratify and to comply with treaty terms. Germany also went on record opposing the United States’ decision to seek bilateral immunity agreements.