Document Type

Article

Publication details

Dean, M 2002, 'Sovereignty and the International Criminal Court : an analysis of the submissions opposed to Australia's ratification', Southern Cross University Law Review, vol. 6, pp. 249-277.

Peer Reviewed

Peer-Reviewed

Abstract

Although Australia had been an advocate of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the end of World War II, debates about the merits of the ICC Statute cast a shadow over the desire of the Government to be among the first signatories - given the volume of dissenting voices on the issue, there is the question as to whether those who are speaking against ratification are using a construction of the concept of sovereignty which is in keeping with that used by the political decision makers - to address the question, the paper provides an historic overview of the development of the concept of sovereignty, and undertakes a critical analysis of its application to the submissions opposed to Australia's ratification of the ICC Statute.