America’s Long History of Double Standards

America’s Long History of
Double Standards
Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba
Un-signing the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Ignoring International adjudications

It’s okay…not always harmful
Three reasons
First Amendment
Feet/inches vs. metric system
Penchant for non-ratification

Double Standards give US bad image. However:
US is exceptional in international affairs—global leadership and activism
When US leads,
other countries follow.
When US does not get involved, often nothing happens (Rwanda/Bosnia)

US Power
Strong Military, Weak Diplomacy Efforts?
Afganistan…went in strong, then what?
Iraq…went in strong, then what?

Bush Administration
Opted for legal strategy
Double standards are becoming the “rule”
Imposed democracy oxymoron
Human rights, universal values harmed
Hostile course of action

What Do We Do About It?
Transnational legal process to improve image
Promote human rights and rule of law
Turn the tide...
America no longer isolated…
like it or not
Power-based internationalism or norm-based?