Council on Foreign Relations

The United States faces a series of difficult policy and strategic questions with respect to its participation in the upcoming International Criminal court (ICC) Review Conference at Kampala, Uganda. The conference will consider the addition of the definition of the crime of aggression as well as a restriction on the rights of states to opt out of the Court's jurisdiction over war crimes. The conference may also consider proposals that the United States strongly opposed in the 1998 Rome negotiations. This Council Special Report will recommend primary and secondary objectives for the United States at the conference and suggest steps the Obama administration should take to best empower American negotiators to achieve those objectives.

In the wake of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, there is a clear need for effective systems of national and international justice and accountability. Made possible by the generous support of the MacArthur Foundation, the CFR Program on International Justice will examine the work of the international criminal tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, and issues such as universal jurisdiction. The program is directed by Adjunct Senior Fellows John B. Bellinger III and Matthew C. Waxman. The program published a special report to prepare for the International Criminal Court's seven year review conference, which took place in Kampala, Uganda, during Summer 2010. The program is currently producing a special report on bolstering national and regional mechanisms of justice and accountability.

Walter Russell Mead is examining the emergence of a middle class in several developing economies and studying the implication of this new force for American foreign policy. The project compares the political role that the middle class played in promoting democracy during the process of industrialization in the West with the role the middle class is playing today in promoting democracy in the Third World.

This series invites scholars, policymakers, and leaders to discuss a wide range of issues related to social, political, and economic development, women's empowerment, and education.

John B. Bellinger III says President Obama should seize the opportunity presented by Republican support for increased domestic oil and gas production to urge the Senate to approve the Law of the Sea Convention.

John B. Bellinger III and Vijay Padmanabhan examine the legal questions surrounding detention for states engaged in conflicts with nonstate groups.

James M. Lindsay argues that an indictment of Moammar Gadhafi by the International Criminal Court could actually make it harder to bring Libya's civil war to a quick end.

James M. Lindsay discusses Newt Gingrich's chances for the U.S. presidency.

James M. Lindsay says that the role of the troops that remain in Afghanistan after a withdrawal will reveal the nature of America's continued commitment there.

James M. Lindsay says that while justice was done in the killing of Osama bin Laden, bin Laden's death also raises many questions.

James M. Lindsay says the military trainers sent by Britain, France, and Italy to aid rebels will not do much to change the course of fighting in Libya.

James M. Lindsay comments on President Obama's address to the nation on Libya.

Robert D. Blackwill says that while the Obama administration deserves credit for its foreign policy achievements, the president is mismanaging the three wars in which the United States is now engaged.

James M. Lindsay argues, "President Obama must now confront a question that was unthinkable two weeks ago: How should he deal with a post-rebellion Gadhafi?"

James M. Lindsay and Kate Collins discuss France's recognition of the National Libyan Council as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

James M. Lindsay discusses how President Obama can deal with the dilemma of encouraging Gadhafi's ouster and minimizing harm to Libyan civilians without entangling the United States in yet another Middle East conflict.

Robert D. Blackwill argues that de facto partition offers the Obama administration the best available alternative to strategic defeat in Afghanistan.

James M. Lindsay says the WikiLeaks fiasco has a silver lining.

Noah Feldman says the Obama administration faces both old and new legal challenges over U.S. defense strategies.

Isobel Coleman discusses the feminization of AIDS in Africa and two recent studies that offer hope for prevention.

Walter Russell Mead discusses fundamental changes in China's labor force.

Walter Russell Mead says that Brazil's recent involvement in the diplomatic dispute between Iran and the United States reveals the United States' need to identify ways to help Brazil reach its potential and help advance important American interests in Latin America.

Walter Russell Mead says the violence in Kyrgyzstan is shaping up to be "a typical modern horror story."

Walter Russell Mead says that Turkey and Brazil's rejection of UN sanctions against Iran revealed that neither country had mastered the challenges of operating in the international system.

Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Walter Russell Mead says, "...neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are really responsible for the mess that they are both in--and neither party can solve the problem on its own."

Walter Russell Mead argues, "The American peace and disarmament movement almost destroyed human freedom."

Walter Russell Mead says that while we don't know if the global economy is in the recovery phase or still getting sicker, we have already learned some important lessons.

Walter Russell Mead discusses changes in Europe that may give Britain new opportunities to expand its influence.

Walter Russell Mead says that the political unrest in Thailand could be a glimpse into Asia's future.

Walter Russell Mead examines "a new round of great power rivalry" involving the Palestinian Authority.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the "proximity talks" in Jerusalem.

Walter Russell Mead says that fears and panic over the current economic crisis in Europe expose the failures of the "religion" of liberal modernity.

Walter Russell Mead examines the problems underlying the European financial crisis.

Isobel Coleman discusses an emerging movement of Islamic feminism.

Walter Russell Mead looks at the efforts to control the Greek financial crisis.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the little known partnership between Israel and India, and its implications for American security and regional geopolitics.

Isobel Coleman discusses her visit to Rwanda, and the prospects for democracy in the nation.

Isobel Coleman reviews Yemen by Victoria Clark and I Am Nujood, Aged 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali.

Walter Russell Mead says that by responding sharply to Israel's plans for increased settlements, President Obama has strengthened his hand abroad and at home.

Isobel Coleman argues that local women can play a role in mitigating the corruption that surrounds humanitarian aid in Somalia.

Walter Russell Mead outlines the difficulties in interpreting the politics of American support for Israel.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the increasingly heated rift between the United States and Israel arising from the announcement of further settlements in Jerusalem during Vice President Biden's visit to the region.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the history of American Christian missionaries in the Arab world and their role in shaping American public opinion.

Walter Russell Mead comments on the disproportionate international treatment of Israel and the differences between critiques of Israel, anti-Zionism, and anti-Semitism.

Walter Russell Mead argues that the United States could be brought into a conflict with Iran unprovoked, but being tougher on the Iranian regime now might ward off such a scenario.

James M. Lindsay and Ray Takeyh state that in efforts to contain a nuclear Iran, "military options should not be taken off the table."

John B. Bellinger III argues that there may be little difference between the international law policies of the Bush and Obama administrations.

Walter Russell Mead comments that the recent Ukrainian election was a "setback" to the spread of democracy in the world.

Kara C. McDonald discusses how high-level visits to Haiti can hamper the relief effort.

Leslie H. Gelb remembers Robert McNamara.

Peter Beinart discusses Hillary Clinton's speech at CFR.

Isobel Coleman and Congressman Steve Israel discuss solar villages.

Peter Beinart discusses Franklin D. Roosevelt's foreign policy legacy.

Michael J. Gerson asks, "In Cairo, will [President Obama] have anything to say to those fighting for human rights?"

Leslie H. Gelb discusses Secretary Geithner's trip to China.

Michael J. Gerson argues that Republican opposition to President Obama's appointment of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court would be "politically risky and ultimately futile."

Michael J. Gerson argues that Republicans should be listening to Colin Powell.

Michael J. Gerson argues, "the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress have delivered a series of blows to the pride and morale of the Central Intelligence Agency."

Leslie H. Gelb discusses foreign policy bestsellers.

Richard N. Haass argues that "partial success" is preferable to "expensive failures" in U.S. foreign policy.

Leslie H. Gelb discusses the meeting among Presidents Obama, Zardari, and Karzai.

Leslie H. Gelb argues that President Obama's upcoming meeting with Asif Ali Zardari will ignore the issue of Pakistan's supply of nuclear weapons.

Richard N. Haass argues that the second Iraq war was a war of choice - and a blunder.

Michael J. Gerson remembers Congressman Jack Kemp.

Richard N. Haass discusses the difficulties surrounding dissent in policymaking.

Richard N. Haass argues that "criminalizing legitimate policy differences will paralyze the conduct of foreign policy."

Peter Beinart argues that in the Palestinian territories, "it's best to stop worrying so much about what Hamas says and try to create a situation in which we can better influence what it does."

Michael J. Gerson discusses the Justice Department's release of the memos on coercive interrogations.

Walter Russell Mead argues that an increasing number of developing countries are turning into the "pacesetters of liberal global capitalism."

Michael Gerson argues that Secretary Gates's defense budget focuses resources and attention precisely where they are most necesary.

Max Boot discusses Defense Secretary Robert Gates's proposed defense agenda.

Michael Gerson reviews Dambisa Moyo's Dead Aid, in the Washington Post.

Leslie H. Gelb argues that President Obama's team has yet to identify the benchmarks that are central to the president's Afghanistan strategy, and knowing what President Obama chooses not to do in the region is just as critical as knowing the policies he does plan to carry out.

Michael Gerson argues that in light of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur's refugee camps, the international community faces  a difficult choice: accept President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's decision to expel relief groups, or increase pressure on Sudan's regime at the risk of more short-term suffering and death.

Leslie H. Gelb expresses concern that the White House may be focusing too narrowly on its own strategy for Afghanistan, and Congress will have to take responsibility to explore a larger set of options.

Michael Gerson examines the Obama administration's "incremental approach" to negotiations with Iran.

Noah Feldman asks, "Has the Obama administration changed the legal rules for detaining suspects in the war on terrorism, or is it continuing in the footsteps of the Bush administration?"

Leslie H. Gelb envisions the state of the world in 2040.