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The International Criminal Court is an independent judicial body that hears cases on individuals charged with crimes against humanity, starvation, war crimes and genocide. The Genocide Convention, which the U.S. has ratified, defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.” In November 2024, after court deliberations on Gaza, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant as well as for a Hamas commander who was later confirmed dead. Israel denounced the ICC ruling as “absurd” and “anti-Semitic.” The U.S. response? It not only ignored the ruling but also leveled sanctions against ICC judges and lawyers. For International law to have any credibility, it must be applied equally without fear or favor. Recorded at the University of Brighton.

Many people, when they hear the word propaganda, immediately associate it with Nazi Germany and torchlight parades or Putin reviewing the troops in Red Square. But propaganda has Roman Catholic church origins going as far back as 1622, when Pope Gregory issued a proclamation using the term to exhort the faithful to propagate the faith. Today, propaganda is disseminated far and wide through the internet. It is used by autocrats to shield themselves and their policies from public view. Bots are at work. Malicious actors spread fake news. Deceptive techniques are so sophisticated that it is sometimes difficult to separate fact from fiction. Misinformation is eroding public trust in institutions and stressing and straining democracy. Stories are planted, rumors are spread, lies are told, and narratives are laundered.

One way to understand how the U.S. operates around the world is the Godfather model. Obey the Don and you’ll be well rewarded. Cross him up and it’s lights out. The U.S. maintains its global power out of the barrel of a gun. Of course, for rhetorical purposes Washington is dedicated to human rights, freedom and democracy. In practice it implements mafia-type rules. In its origins, the Founding Fathers emulated Britain. By the end of World War Two the Union Jack was replaced by the Stars and Stripes and America ruled the waves. It invades, bombs and occupies countries, imposes sanctions and blockades and kidnaps and assassinates leaders. Chomsky says, “Since its founding, America has scarcely had a year without resorting to violence.”

On July 4th, 1776, fifty-six men in Philadelphia signed the Declaration of Independence. Today, the day is marked by store sales, fireworks, and parades. The much-revered Founding Fathers were mostly wealthy merchants and large land and slave owners. One of them was John Adams, who was not so well off. He predicted: “The History of our Revolution will be one continued Lye from one end to the other.” Adams was prescient. Legends have become facts. The traditional accounts of the Revolution are about a handful of brave white men who declared independence from Britain. In the telling, many were left out. Women, for example, played vital roles by raising families, farming, running businesses, making uniforms for the soldiers, cooking and feeding the troops, and even taking up arms and fighting. A people’s history ensures their inclusion.

The International Criminal Court, the ICC, is based in The Hague, Netherlands. Established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, the ICC is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. The ICC is intended to complement, not replace, national judicial systems. It can exercise its jurisdiction only when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute criminals. The Court has brought charges against high-profile international leaders and in some cases has imprisoned them. Countries that are not parties to the ICC and do not recognize its jurisdiction include China, India, Russia, Israel and the United States. Recorded at the Oxford Union.