Can international courts judge without political constraint? | Coffee break research at LSE

International courts are regularly petitioned by states, international organisations, civil society groups and individuals to help settle disputes and interpret the law. What explains how international courts respond to these petitions?
In this talk, Dr Theresa Squatrito discusses her book on international judicial decision-making. She explores when and how international courts defer to states, considering questions of judicial independence, political fragmentation and legitimacy.
Dr Theresa Squatrito's research focuses on international organisations (IOs) and international law. Through the comparative study of international institutions, she contributes to debates on the institutional design, performance, and legitimacy of IOs and international courts (ICs). Currently, her research examines how the institutional design of ICs shapes judicial decision-making as well as the legitimacy of international courts.
"Judging under Constraint: The Politics of Deference by International Courts" by Theresa Squatrito (Cambridge University Press, October 2025)
Theresa Squatrito is Associate Professor in International Organisations in the Department of International Relations at LSE
Read an interview with Dr Theresa Squatrito on LSE Review of Books
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