Autocracies and the International Criminal Court: Civil Society Engagement, Dissident NGOs, and the Pursuit of Justice

The rising tide of autocratization does not bode well for the International Criminal Court (icc), which has almost exclusively intervened in contexts of autocratic rule. As the Court is dependent not only on state cooperation but also on non-governmental organizations (ngo s) for effectiveness and legitimacy, this article explores the role—if any—of dissident ngo s in the pursuit of justice for international crimes committed under autocratic regimes. It shows that, while ngo s have been fundamental to the working of the icc, autocratic states are particularly challenging for the icc and ngo s to operate in. Despite this, ngo s may have found new ways of holding autocratic states to account for international crimes—with or without the icc.