Corporations, Accountability and International Criminal Law

Industry and Atrocity

Joanna Kyriakakis, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University, Australia

This timely book explores the prospect of prosecuting corporations or individuals within the business world for conduct amounting to international crime. The major debates and ensuing challenges are examined, arguing that corporate accountability under international criminal law is crucial in achieving the objectives of international criminal justice.

‘The book delves expertly and critically into a prominent, albeit specialized and sometimes prosaic, mechanism of corporate accountability for human rights abuses. It is well-written and accessible. The coupling of succinct case histories with insightful and critical commentary of all major corporate international criminal law (ICL) trials and related developments means that this volume should be of interest to a range of audiences, from legal and non-legal backgrounds. It is a wonderful resource for educators, scholars and practitioners alike. Whether or not the reader agrees with Kyriakakis’ views, and her optimism, one thing is for sure: we will all be better placed to contemplate the future of corporate accountability under ICL having digested this book.’
– Business and Human Rights Journal

‘Kyriakakis exceedingly achieves the goals that she set for herself early in the book: increasing the reader's exposure to the state of the art and analysing the major debates within the topic. For this reason, it is a fascinating read for students and instructors alike.’
– Mrinalini Shinde, Humanitäres Völkerrecht

‘Industry uplifts, at times, but industry also violates human rights, at other times. How to hold industry responsible for those harms? This clear, cogent, and comprehensive book makes a compelling case for the role of international criminal law in this regard. Creatively wise and never naively imprudent, Joanna Kyriakakis delivers a brilliant contribution to crucial debates on corporate responsibility.’
– Mark A. Drumbl, Washington and Lee University, US

‘This work could not have come at a better time. Corporate liability is increasingly explored in international criminal law as an alternative to criminal responsibility of natural persons. The author is an expert on the topic and this work will be a standard work on corporate criminal liability for many years to come.’
– Elies van Sliedregt, University of Leeds, UK