Ratification Attitudes Towards the Rome Statute A Quantitative Study of Current Parties

Abstract

The Rome Statute of 1998, on which the International Criminal Court is based, has been ratified by a variety of countries. This paper is a quantitative analysis on the Rome Statute State Parties. It examines what motivated countries to ratify the Rome Statute of 1998. It draws upon a sample of 131 countries, focusing specifically on the traits of democracy, GDP, population, and global connectedness of these countries. Regression analysis allows for an examination of the explanatory weight of democracy, GDP and population to create a more holistic view of the interactions and significance they have on ratification of the Rome Statute. Findings suggest that factors related to agency characteristics, such as Democracy Scores, have a significant impact on pushing a country toward the ratification of the Rome Statute. The article concludes that despite the conflicting results of outliers, the significance of agency characteristics in ratification attitudes reflects a commitment to the international community and its norms.