Prosecuting Corporations for International Crimes: In Search of New Perspectives?

In international criminal law, the possibility of investigating and punishing corporations is currently excluded. Nevertheless, the advocates of the thesis focused on individual liability have long been opposed by those who believe that the ‘collective’ component and the role that corporations often play in the commission of international crimes cannot be neglected. This contribution outlines the essential terms of the long-standing debate on corporate criminal liability for international crimes, highlighting the main arguments in support of the opportunity to (re)consider such a perspective – in the context of a broader global regulatory trend that makes corporate accountability a crucial element of modern strategies of prevention and repression.