Autocracies and the International Criminal Court: Civil Society Engagement, Dissident ngo s, 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 .