Comparative and Foreign Law Commons^™

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UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Human Rights Approach To International Criminal Liability: From The Promises Of The 1990s Criminal Tribunals To Selective Impunity, Ilias Bantekas

UC Law SF International Law Review

Since the adoption of the UDHR in 1948, it has become clear that state responsibility for human rights violations ought to be complemented by perpetrators’ individual responsibility under criminal and civil law. The concept of individual responsibility suggests that criminal liability is the “natural” corollary of conduct considered to be a violation of human rights. Even if such criminal liability does not, for whatever reason, arise under national law, this is certainly the outcome under international law. The extent to which this concept is applicable to all violations of human rights involves an examination of the legal basis of human …

Sovereignty As A Shield? The Icc’S Role In Addressing War Crimes In Nagorno- Karabakh, Grigori Sahakyan

UC Law SF International Law Review

This Note argues that the International Criminal Court (ICC) should assert jurisdiction over atrocities from the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh offensive and pursue prosecutions for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Proper International Humanitarian Law (IHL) classification places the situation in an international armed conflict—via direct interstate action and/or occupation—triggering the full Article 8 framework. Jurisdiction is grounded in Armenia’s ratification and retroactive Article 12(3) acceptance; admissibility is satisfied because Azerbaijan is unwilling to conduct genuine proceedings. While cooperation obstacles remain, targeted enforcement measures can strengthen execution of warrants. The bottom line is doctrinal, not diplomatic: sovereignty cannot shield atrocity crimes; the …

Piercing The Algorithmic Fog Of War: Ai-Enabled Decision-Support Systems And The Responsibility Gap For War Crimes Under The Rome Statute, Karen H. Cho

UC Law SF International Law Review

This article examines how the integration of artificial intelligence-enabled decision-support systems (AI-DSS) into military conflict complicates the attribution of individual criminal responsibility for war crimes under the Rome Statute. Unlike lethal autonomous weapons systems which are intended to supplant human agency, AI-DSS augments human decision-making across the targeting cycle while simultaneously introducing opacity and bias. These characteristics risk facilitating indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, undermining t4he principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law. Through a case study of Israel’s deployment of systems such as “the Gospel,” “Lavender,” and “Where’s Daddy?” in Gaza, this article illustrates how algorithmic mediation obscures …

Embracing The Bot: Japan’S Love Affair With Ai Learning, Dan Rosen

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

“Foreign-Related Rule Of Law” And The Belt And Road Initiative: A Chinese Legal- Economic Synergy, Sungmin Kim

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Shielding From Culpability: The Responsibility System In Eu’S Asylum And Migration Policy, Bjarne Bachmann

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Masthead

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ai Governance In China: A Tale Of Three Digital Empires, Charles C. Wang, Siyi Lin, Xia Wu, Yiman Li

UC Law SF International Law Review

Since 2021, China has strategically expedited artificial intelligence (AI) legislation and refined algorithmic governance to compete with the US and the EU. The rapid growth of algorithm filing cases is a direct result of the “Made in China 2025” Initiative which prioritizes AI development driven by domestic leading tech companies like DeepSeek. As world-class digital powers, China, the US, and the EU diverge in their categorization of AI risks and adoption of regulatory measures. China’s centralized single-agency regulatory infrastructure differs from the multi-agency and decentralized governance models in the US and the EU, respectively. China does not impose the same …

“Hippo” Law Law And The Biodiversity Crisis Of Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Pollution, Population, And Overharvesting, Andrew W. Torrance, Bill Tomlinson

UC Law SF International Law Review

This article explores the critical issue of biodiversity loss through the lens of the “HIPPO” acronym coined by Edward O. Wilson: Habitat loss, Invasive species, Pollution, Population, and Overharvesting. It examines the ecological and social ramifications of declining biodiversity and assesses existing legal frameworks aimed at mitigating these threats. Furthermore, the article proposes innovative legal mechanisms to address each HIPPO factor, offering a legal approach that spans many different domains. By integrating comparative legal analysis and suggesting forward-looking legal reforms, this work aims to contribute to the conservation efforts essential for sustaining biodiversity in the face of escalating environmental challenges.

Slow But Steady Wins The Race: The Rise And Rise Of Euroscepticism., Katy Rotzin

UC Law SF International Law Review

This paper analyzes Euroscepticism in the European Union with a focus on two member-states Italy and France. This paper discusses the history of Euroscepticism in Europe, immigration law and economic policy in the European Union as it pertains to both the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and the Stability and Growth Pact, which were both negotiated or renegotiated in 2023. Euroscepticism is a wide sweeping political movement, and this paper does not analyze every aspect, but only seeks to magnify two issues that have plagued the EU since its inception. This paper argues that Euroscepticism will clearly rise with …

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UC Law SF International Law Review

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Defining Pacifism: Article 9’S Role In Japan’S National Defense And Global Commitments, Dylan Kaito Fackler

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Primacy Of International Treaties In The Republic Of Kosovo: A Critical Review Of The Kosovo Constitutional Court Case No. 95/13 Through The Lenses Of The Law Of Treaties, Besfort T. Rrecaj

UC Law SF International Law Review

In 2013, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo (the Court) issued an important verdict in its constitutional review of the first agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. In its obiter dictum, the Court made conclusions regarding the relationship between international treaties and domestic law, and the hierarchy between these two norms as well as signature, ratification, and entry into force of treaties. Ten years post-judgment, this research returns to the Court’s arguments presented by the Court and argues that the Court made significant mistakes in its arguments and therefore made erroneous interpretations in its rather short arguments of the judgment. Using well …

Masthead

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Old Wine In A New Bottle? – An Empirical Evaluation Of The Judicial Reforms In China In The 2010s, Peter C.H. Chan

UC Law SF International Law Review

This article provides an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of the judicial reform measures implemented in China in the 2010s. Among other objectives, the reforms aimed to strengthen the independence of judges, the financial autonomy of courts and the professionalism of adjudicators. Critics have questioned the success of the reforms, citing continued government intervention with adjudication and unchanged structural problems with courts. To date, there has been limited empirical literature focusing specifically on the judicial reform measures in the 2010s in China. This article provides a glimpse into what really was happening on the ground since the reforms through the …

A One-State Solution To The Arab- Israeli/Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Recommendation Supported By A Review Of The Historical Record And Current Context, Samuel Horowitz

UC Law SF International Law Review

This article examines the legal underpinning of the creation of the state of Israel and historical documents to note that despite calls for a two-state solution at the UN, a one-state solution to the conflict is not necessarily precluded. It then identifies why both the status quo and the proposed two state solution are problematic and untenable. Lastly, it looks to the example of South Africa because of similarities between South Africa and modern day Israel/Palestine. It concludes that the creation of a single state, following the example of post-apartheid South Africa, is the only solution to the conflict that …

“Whale Wars” — Are The Japanese Whaling Just Because They Can? A Testament Of Failed International Whaling Policy, Katy Rotzin

UC Law SF International Law Review

This paper analyzes whaling law and practices in Japan. This paper briefly compares Japanese whaling to whaling in Norway and Iceland, as well as Indigenous whaling but mainly focuses on Japan’s domestic ethos around “whaling culture,” their policies, which perpetuate whaling even though the industry is no longer profitable, and their unique relationship with the International Whaling Commission. This paper further analyzes the International Whaling Commission’s main document, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, and its inability to keep rogue nations in check, and recommends that anti-whaling nations combine both soft law and sanctions to pressure Japan to …

From The Editor-In-Chief, Jacklin Lee

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ccpa/Cpra: Consumers Bear The Burden As Companies Bear The Crown, Jacklin Lee

UC Law SF International Law Review

Examining the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is important for understanding United States privacy law. They were pioneering legislation in that the CCPA was one of the first comprehensive state-level privacy laws in the United States when it was enacted in 2018, introducing new rights for California residents regarding their personal information and imposed obligations on businesses handling data. The CPRA, passed in 2020, builds upon CCPA and further enhances privacy protections. These laws have served as models for subsequent privacy legislation at both the state and federal levels. They embody key principles …

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UC Law SF International Law Review

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Injustice Anywhere: A Comparative Law Analysis Of Saudi Arabia’S Criminal Justice System, Cooper C. Millhouse

UC Law SF International Law Review

A narrow understanding of other nations’ judicial systems begets unsupported assumptions about the way a justice system should operate. While many western commenters have publicized the failures of Middle Eastern societies to protect individual rights, much of the existing literature fails to analyze the legal structures which perpetuate injustice and the motivations that keep the institutions in place. This article illuminates the goals Saudi Arabia’s justice system, inspects how those goals parallel the goals of other common law and civil law systems, and evaluates whether Saudi Arabia’s system is able to effectively accomplish its aims.

This article argues that Saudi …

The Origins And Future Of International Data Privacy Law, Julian Schneider

UC Law SF International Law Review

Data privacy law varies widely across jurisdictions worldwide. Amidst sophistries and jurisdictional conflicts between lawmakers in Europe and the United States, a largely unregulated cross-border data industry emerged, prepared to exploit an unaware or overwhelmed general public. Without governmental support, privacy itself is in grave danger. The people, as true bearers of the fundamental right to privacy, must be put back in control of their data by governments that are aware of their ever-conflicting roles as protectors and aggressors. Scholars like Ari Ezra Waldman, in its book “Industry Unbound,” have criticized the common notice and consent approach to privacy as …

From The Editor-In-Chief, Monica Ratajczak

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Sovereign Debt Denunciation A Nd Unilateral Insolvency Under International Law: When Is It Lawful?, Ilias Bantekas

UC Law SF International Law Review

Central to our understanding of sovereignty should be the competence of states to determine how their debts are restructured or denounced when the debts considered are odious or illegal. Sovereignty, in this sense, is tantamount to self-determination and the corresponding obligations of states that are absent on the part of creditors when entering into a debt agreement or restructuring process. States owe duties under international law to their own people. Hence, the sanctity of international agreements, whether treaties or contracts, entered by states cannot override these compelling and humancentered state obligations. Otherwise, such agreements would be valued more than human …

Extraterritorial Application Of Antitrust Law, International Comity, And Scope Of Remedies: Considering The Nature Of The Product And Service In Addition To The Effect In The Relevant Market, Annie Soo Yeon Ahn

UC Law SF International Law Review

This Article proposes that the nature of the product and service, including the importance to the country’s industry and consumers and the level of government regulation, should be closely considered for analyzing international comity and deciding the scope of remedies in antitrust cases. These factors should be considered in addition to the effect in the relevant market when determining whether there is an extraterritorial application of antitrust law under the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act. Specifically, the nature of the product and service, including the importance to the country’s industry and consumers and the level of government regulation, should be …

Combatting The Uyghur Genocide Via The Wto’S Public Morals Exception, Connor Stanford Moldo

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Masthead

UC Law SF International Law Review

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From The Editor-In-Chief, Monica Ratajczak

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Court Polarization: A Comparative Perspective, Iddo Porat

UC Law SF International Law Review

Polarization is on the rise around the globe. Political views are driven to the poles, and moderate views are weakened. Many studies have been carried out on the increase in social and political polarization, but far fewer on the effects of polarization on constitutional and supreme courts, and none on a comparative or global scale. This Article attempts to fill this gap. It aims, for the first time, to describe and typologize the effects of political polarization on constitutional and supreme courts in different parts of the world.

The Article identifies three models of such effects: mirror polarization (the U.S.) …