The International Court of Justice and the Future of the Global Rule of Law

The International Court of Justice has established itself as the most effective of the principal organs of the United Nations, playing a central role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and the progressive development of international law. The authors of this article analyze three ways in which its contribution to the preservation and strengthening of the global rule of law could be further enhanced: expanding its contentious jurisdiction, encouraging greater recourse to its advisory function and fostering closer cooperation with the U.N. Secretary-General.