Professor: Ian Callison
4 credits
When the International Criminal Court (ICC) was created in 2002, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan described the Court as a “potential deterrent to future atrocities.’’ Nearly 25 years later, mass atrocities persist, and many perpetrators of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity have never faced trial. Can international law meaningfully hold powerful actors accountable? Can it deter them altogether? Is justice possible in a world structured by unequal power?
Drawing on scholarship from political science, law, history, and philosophy, this discussion-driven colloquium examines why international criminal legal institutions emerge, how they function, and why mass atrocities persist despite the presence of institutions like the ICC. Students will explore debates surrounding peace versus justice, sovereignty, selective enforcement, and the role of international norms.
The course begins with the historical emergence of international criminal law and the creation of the ICC before examining the institutional, political, and ethical factors that shape its effectiveness. Through collaborative discussion, analytical writing, and independent research, students will evaluate competing perspectives on the promises and limitations of international criminal justice. By the end of the course, students will develop an original argument about the future of the ICC and the broader prospects for international accountability.
Ian Callison is a political scientist who specializes in strategic political violence, civil war, international law and institutions, and quantitative research methods. He will be completing his PhD at the University of Washington this spring and joining the CHC Faculty as a Visiting Instructor for the 2026-27 academic year.
Graduation Requirement: This class will fulfill a Social Science Colloquium and the Global Perspectives (GP) cultural literacy requirement. If the student has already taken a Social Science Colloquium, this class will fulfill both of the following requirements: an Elective Colloquium and Global Perspective cultural literacy.