Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an exciting new development in the
international system. It is not without its detractors, however, amongst others the United
States. The fact that the United States takes a strong stance against the ICC creates
uncertainty in the international system. This uncertainty is linked to the role of the United
States as the only remaining superpower in this system.
The main concern of the United States about the ICC is that an American might be
brought before the court in terms of politically motivated charges. To illustrate this
concern, the United States offers five basic arguments. These five are condensed into
three arguments that form the main body of this thesis. They are the questions related to
the jurisdiction of the ICC, the role of the United Nations Security Council in the
functioning of the ICC, and the influence that the United States constitution might have
on the ICC. Close attention is also paid to the political implications of the stance taken by
the United States, both in terms of the specific arguments, and in general.
The different arguments are tested against certain criteria, which include the stipulations
of the ICC Statute and other counter arguments. From these comparisons, certain
evaluations can be made, from which conclusions are drawn.
For various reasons, none of the arguments put forward have merit when tested against
the stipulations of the ICC Statute. What this implies is that the United States does not
have real evidence to back its main concern about the ICC. Even though the possibility
exists that an American could be charged before the court, there are sufficient safeguards
to protect such a person from actually appearing before the court.
The very real political implication then becomes that the United States is undermining its
position and relative power in the international system by taking such a unilateral st / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Internasionale Kriminele Hof (IKH) is 'n opwindende ontwikkeling in die
internasionale sisteem. Dit is egter nie sonder opponente nie, wat onder andere die
Verenigte State van Amerika insluit. Die feit dat Amerika so sterk standpunt teen die hof
inneem, skep onsekerheid in die internasionale sisteem. Die onsekerheid hou verband met
Amerika se rol as die enigste oorblywende supermoontheid binne die sisteem.
Amerika se hoof besorgdheid met die IKH is dat 'n Amerikaner dalk in terme van
polities-gemotiveerde aanklagte voor die hof gedaag sal word. Hierdie besorgdheid word
geïllustreer deur vyf basiese argumente wat geopper word. Hierdie argumente word in
drie spesifieke argumente wat die basis van die tesis vorm, gefokus. Die argumente is die
vrae in terms van die jurisdiksie van die IKH, die rol van die Veiligheidsraad van die
Verenigde Nasies in die funksionering van die IKH, en die invloed wat die Amerikaanse
grondwet op die IKH het. Daar word ook gekyk na die politieke implikasies van die
Amerikaanse standpunt, beide in terme van die spesifieke argumente en in die algemeen.
Die verskillende argumente word teen sekere kriteria getoets, wat die stipulasies van die
IKH Statuut en ander teenargumente behels. Vanaf hierdie vergelykings kan evaluerings
gedoen word, waarvan daar gevolgtrekkings gemaak word.
Vir verskeie redes het nie een van die spesifieke argumente meriete as dit teen die
bepalings van die IKH Statuut getoets word nie. Dit impliseer dat Amerika nie werklik
bewyse vir hul hoof besorgdheid met betrekking tot die IKH het nie. Selfs al is die
moontlikheid daar dat 'n Amerikaner wel voor die hof gedaag kan word, is daar
voldoende waarborge om so persoon teen 'n verskyning voor die hof te beskerm.
Die werklike politieke implikasie is nou dat Amerika sy posisie en relatiewe mag in die
internasionale sisteem met sy eensydige standpunt teen die IKH ondermyn. Hierdie punt
kan ook verdere uitgebreide implikasies hê.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52869 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Engelbrecht, Gysbert Adriaan |
| Contributors | Nel, P. R., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences . Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 106 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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