Principles of International Criminal Law

Fourth Edition

Gerhard Werle and Florian Jeßberger

The fourth edition of one of the best-regarded works on international criminal law, by two of the world's experts in the field
Provides a comprehensive understanding of the foundations of international criminal law and the core crimes it governs
Offers an accessible overview for both students, legal practitioners, and judges working on cases concerning crimes, both at the international and domestic levels
Builds on the previous editions' philosophical and normative analysis of international criminal justice, and discusses new developments in the field, including recent case law from the International Criminal Court

New to this Edition:

Up-to-date coverage of the prosecution of crimes committed in Syria and Northern Iraq
New sections address critical perspectives on international criminal law, and the fragmention of international criminal law
Provides detail on new war crimes of prohibited means of warfare

Principles of International Criminal Law

Fourth Edition

Gerhard Werle and Florian Jeßberger

Description

Principles of International Criminal Law is one of the most influential textbooks in the field of international criminal justice. This fourth edition builds on the highly-successful work of the previous editions, setting out the general principles governing international crimes as well as the fundamentals of both substantive and procedural international criminal law. It provides a detailed understanding of the sources and evolution of international criminal law, demonstrating how it has developed, and how its application has changed. The book assesses in detail the four key international crimes as defined by the statute of the International Criminal Court: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

The new edition revises and updates the work with developments in international criminal justice since 2014. It includes substantial new material on critical perspectives on international criminal justice, the fragmentation of international criminal law, new war crimes of prohibited means of warfare, and the prosecution of crimes committed in Syria and Northern Iraq.The book retains its highly-acclaimed systematic approach and consistent methodology, making it essential reading for both students and scholars of international criminal law, as well as practitioners and judges working in the field.

Principles of International Criminal Law

Fourth Edition

Gerhard Werle and Florian Jeßberger

Principles of International Criminal Law

Fourth Edition

Gerhard Werle and Florian Jeßberger

Author Information

Gerhard Werle, Emeritus Professor of German and International Criminal Law, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Florian Jeßberger, Professor of Criminal Law and Director of the Franz von Liszt Institute for International Criminal Law, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Gerhard Werle is Professor Emeritus at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin where he held the Chair in German and International Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Modern Legal History from 1993 to 2020. He has been a visiting professor at various universities worldwide, including Columbia Law School, New York; Kansai University, Osaka; University of Sydney; University of Technology, Sydney; University of Cape Town; and University of the Western Cape, Cape Town. He serves as the Director of the South African-German Research Network for Transnational Criminal Justice and was a member of the Working Group on the Introduction of a Code of Crimes Against International Law established by the German Federal Ministry of Justice. His works on international criminal law, transitional justice, and modern legal history have been published widely in many languages.

Florian Jeßberger is the Director of the Franz von Liszt-Institute for International Criminal Law and holds the Chair in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, International Criminal Law, and Modern Legal History at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. A co-editor of the Journal of International Criminal Justice, he has published widely on issues of German, international, and comparative criminal law. Before joining Humboldt-Universität, he held the Chair in Criminal Law, International Criminal Law, and Modern Legal History at Universität Hamburg where he also served as a Vice Dean. He was a visiting fellow or professor, inter alia, at the University of Oxford, the University of Ferrara, and the University of Naples Féderico II.

Contributors:

Boris Burghardt, Senior Researcher and Lecturer in Law, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Belinda Cooper, Senior Fellow, World Policy Institute, New York.
Aziz Epik, Senior Researcher and Lecturer in Law, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Julia Geneuss, Senior Researcher and Lecturer in Law, Universität Hamburg.
Annegret Hartig, Former Researcher and Lecturer in Law, Universität Hamburg.
Swantje Maecker, Former Researcher and Lecturer in Law, Universität Hamburg.
Volker Nerlich, Senior Legal Officer, International Criminal Court, The Hague; Honorary Professor of Law, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Leonie Steinl, Senior Researcher and Lecturer in Law, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Principles of International Criminal Law

Fourth Edition

Gerhard Werle and Florian Jeßberger

Reviews and Awards

"The publication continues to be a significant contribution to international criminal law theory, and I recommend readers to include in their libraries" - JUDr. Milan Lipovsky, ph.D, Czech Yearbook of Public and Private International Law