International relations theories intend to explain why countries subscribe more or less quickly to the statute of the International Criminal Court. However, a rigorous analysis shows that to do so, a country must accept the idea that the international rule is superior to the national rule and furthermore, that judgements by international courts supersede national ones. These criteria explain why the United States and the European countries have different positions in respect to the International Criminal Court.

Wayne Sandholtz teaches political science at the University of California (Irvine). Translated from the English by Elsa Paroissien.

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