"This book examines the main features of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from a political science and international relations perspective. It describes the main features of the Court and discusses the political negotiations and the ongoing clashes between those states that oppose the Court, particularly the United States, and those that defend it. The second aim of the book is to understand the negotiations on the establishment of the ICC as an example of how international decision-making is influenced by global civil society. Finally, it asks whether such global civil society influence is really to be welcomed as a democratic or ethical contribution to international politics."--Jacket.