No 🧵 this Memorial Day Weekend.

In the meantime, you can see my latest World Politics Review. It places the ICC charges against Israel and Hamas officials into a larger context: What they mean for US-China/US-Russia Rivalry and the 'Rules Based Order'.
worldpoliticsreview.com/israel-icc-us-…

The dismissive manner by which Biden and Blinken dismissed the ICC charges against Israel’s leadership effectively undercut their efforts over the past three years to rebuild the perceived strength of international institutions, Paul Poast writes.
worldpoliticsreview.com/israel-icc-us-…

By dismissing outright the ICC’s charges against Israel’s leadership, President Biden laid bare the hypocrisy of the rules-based order, Paul Poast writes.
worldpoliticsreview.com/israel-icc-us-…

Biden and Blinken claim that the US protects the 'rules based order'. But their knee-jerk criticism of the ICC's charges against Netanyahu undermined that claim.

I explain why and how in my latest for World Politics Review.

worldpoliticsreview.com/israel-icc-us-…

Biden and Blinken claim that the US protects the 'rules based order'. But their knee-jerk criticism of the ICC's charges against Netanyahu undermined that claim.

I explain why and how in my latest for World Politics Review.

worldpoliticsreview.com/israel-icc-us-…

Interesting polling results from the Chicago Council on immigration.

My sense is that 'controlling' immigration likely means different things to different people. For instance, I'm in favor of an orderly increase in immigration.

IR Book of the Week!

'We Win, They Lose' by Matthew Kroenig & Dan Negrea. Title draws from the Reagan quote on the US approach to the Cold War. The book argues that this view should underpin the US approach towards China (and other issues) today.
amazon.com/We-Win-They-Lo…

Is there a role for ethics and norms in international politics? Hans Morgenthau acknowledged that they try to send a message. But is that message heard?

Current state of the 'rules-based order':

- Blinken when ICC charges Putin: 'I think anyone who's a party to the court and has obligations should fulfill their obligations'

- Blinken when ICC charges Netanyahu: 'Outrageous'

World politics is about power, not so much rules

Claims by Biden administration officials to “support the rules-based order” are at stake.

Depending on how they respond to the ICC charges, those claims will carry weight into the future….or be fully ignored for now on.

Biden administration is in an (ICC) bind:

- Supports ICC prosecution of Putin
- Supports ICC prosecution of Sinwar

But will it support the ICC prosecuting Netanyahu?

I think it will, but do so in a cautious/ambiguous manner.
worldpoliticsreview.com/us-israel-rela…

Just going to re-up this piece before we hear the Biden Administration's response to the ICC charges.

worldpoliticsreview.com/us-israel-rela…

The charges at the ICC could carry weight than the charges in the ICJ.

Individual 'crimes against humanity' (at the ICC) are relatively easier to prove than charges of 'genocide' against a state (at the ICJ).

This thread by Paul Poast asks what's wrong with the word 'genocide'. I ask the opposite question: What's right with it? Why is it useful, indeed essential, & why are other concepts insufficient, in analysing armed conflict, especially in cases like Gaza & Ukraine? [THREAD]