Universiteit van Amsterdam
Transnational Criminal Law – Transnational and International Criminal Law – 2024/2025
Literature summary Transnational Criminal Law (3064TCL4VY).
Table of content
WEEK 1 – INTRODUCTION TO TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES ..................... 3
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ........................................................................................................................................... 3
E. van Sliedregt, `International Criminal Law: Over-studied and Underachieving?`, 29(1) Leiden Journal of
International Law (2016) ................................................................................................................................ 3
F. Mégret, `The Unity of International Criminal Law: A Socio-Legal View`, in K.J. Heller, F. Mégret, S.M.H.,
Nouwen, J.D. Ohlin, and D. Robinson (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of International Criminal Law (Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2020), pp. 811-838 .................................................................................................. 5
ADDITIONAL READING MATERIAL................................................................................................................................. 6
N. Boister, `Transnational Criminal Law`, in P. Caeiro, S. Gless, V. Mitsilegas, M. J. Costa, J. De Snaijer, and
G. Theodorakakou (eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Crime and Criminal Justice (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar,
2024), pp. 675-690 ......................................................................................................................................... 6
WEEK 2 – TERRORISM ...................................................................................................................................... 9
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Neil Boister, Chapter 7 Terrorism, in: Neil Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 105-125 ..................................................................................... 9
Amrith Rohan Perera, `The draft United Nations Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism`, in
B. Saul (ed.), Research Handbook on International Law and Terrorism (2nd Edition), Edward Elgar
Publishing, 2020, pp. 120-128. ..................................................................................................................... 11
Roberta Arnold, `Terrorism, war crimes and the International Criminal Court`, in B. Saul (ed.), Research
Handbook on International Law and Terrorism (2nd Edition), Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020, pp. 271-284.
...................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental
freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul, 17 January 2024, paragraphs 10 to 14............................. 13
WEEK 3 – DRUGS TRAFFICKING AND TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME ................................................... 14
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 14
Neil Boister, Chapter 6 Drug trafficking, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 89-104. .................................................................................... 14
Neil Boister, Chapter 8 Transnational Organized Crime, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational
Criminal Law (2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 126-145. .................................................... 18
Pablo Kalmanovitz, Can criminal organizations be non-State parties to armed conflict? In International
Review of the Red Cross (2023), 105 (923), 618–636. .................................................................................. 21
Currie and Leon, COPLA: A Transnational Criminal Court for Latin America and the Caribbean, Nordic
Journal of International Law, 2019, 587-613. .............................................................................................. 23
Vanda Felbab-Brown, ‘Pipe dreams: The Taliban and drugs from the 1990s into its new regime’ at
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/pipe-dreams-the-taliban-and-drugs-from-the-1990s-into-its-new-
regime/ ......................................................................................................................................................... 25
WEEK 4 – MARITIME PIRACY .......................................................................................................................... 28
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 28
Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 45-
55 (Chapter 2 Piracy) .................................................................................................................................... 28
Gottlieb, ‘International cooperation in combating modern forms of maritime piracy: Legal and policy
dimensions’, PhD Thesis ............................................................................................................................... 31
WEEK 5 – CORRUPTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING ....................................................................................... 33
1
, PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 33
Neil Boister, Chapter 9 Corruption, in: Neil Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2 nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018 ........................................................................................................ 33
Neil Boister, Chapter 10 Money Laundering, in: Neil Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law
(2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 146-186 ............................................................................ 35
M. L. Wolf, R. Goldstone, R. Rotberg, ‘The progressing proposal for an international anti-corruption court’,
American Academy of Art and Science ......................................................................................................... 36
Anton Moiseienko, et al., War Funder and Profiteers: Economic Complicity in International Crimes in
Ukraine and Beyond, ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy, ANU Law School, ................................ 38
Typology of Inbound Human Trafficking in Cambodia Cyber-scams Compounds,” ..................................... 40
WEEK 6 – HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MIGRANT SMUGGLING ....................................................................... 42
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 42
Neil Boister, Chapter 4 Slavery and human trafficking, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational
Criminal Law (2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 56-75 ......................................................... 42
Neil Boister, Chapter 5 Migrant Smuggling, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 76-88 ....................................................................................... 44
Yvon Dandurand, Criminalizing Human Trafficking Has Not Made a Difference: A Law Enforcement Failure,
in Journal of Human Trafficking, Vol 10, 2024, pp 383-387. ........................................................................ 46
Valsamis Mitsilegas, The normative foundations of the criminalization of human smuggling: Exploring the
fault lines between European and international law, in New Journal of European Criminal Law, Vol. 10(1),
2019, pp. 68-85............................................................................................................................................. 48
WEEK 7 – DISTINCTION TCL-ICL REVISITED: APPLICATION TO CRIMINALIZATION OF DAMAGING THE
ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 50
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 50
Claus Kress, ‘International Criminal Law’, in Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, OUP
2009, only part A .......................................................................................................................................... 50
\Neil Boister, Part I Introduction, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd Edition),
Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 3-44 ....................................................................................................... 52
Vanuata proposal ecocide ............................................................................................................................ 54
2
,Week 1 – Introduction to transnational criminal law and
transnational crimes
Prescribed literature
E. van Sliedregt, `International Criminal Law: Over-studied and Underachieving?`, 29(1)
Leiden Journal of International Law (2016)
1. INTRODUCTION
Neil Boister’s book, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law, has been praised for highlighting a
field that has long been overshadowed by international criminal law (ICL). The rise of international
criminal tribunals, culminating in the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), brought
ICL into prominence, leaving transnational criminal law (TCL) largely neglected. Robert Currie argues
that this focus on ICL is disproportionate, as it has become oversaturated with academic study. While
ICL remains an exciting field, Currie suggests that its legal and scholarly inquiries are excessive,
especially given the limited achievements in practice. The ICC, for instance, has only completed three
trials from indictment to judgment in its first fourteen years, a pace that does not match the extensive
academic attention devoted to the field. Currie’s critique prompts a broader reflection on the future
of ICL scholarship, particularly considering the challenges it faces in achieving practical results.
2. ICL’S ATTRACTION
ICL’s continued allure can be attributed to several factors:
1. First, its novelty has played a crucial role in attracting scholars and practitioners. The
establishment of ad hoc tribunals in the 1990s marked the birth of ICL as an independent
discipline, drawing enthusiasm from those eager to participate in shaping a new legal system.
Although its initial novelty has faded, the field remains dynamic, with ongoing debates over
legal principles and inconsistent rulings highlighting its evolving nature;
2. Second, ICL is characterized by norm entrepreneurialism, wherein states and legal scholars
actively shape its principles by transplanting domestic legal norms into international law. Some
states, like France and Germany, have sought to influence ICC procedures by introducing
elements from their domestic legal systems. While this comparative approach enriches ICL, it
also presents challenges, as the amalgamation of legal traditions can lead to inconsistencies
and misunderstandings among practitioners from different backgrounds;
3. Third, ICL captivates interest due to the gravity of the crimes it addresses. International
crimes, often labeled as mass atrocity crimes, are considered among the most serious
violations of international law. Trials are framed as pivotal historical moments, contributing to
a broader narrative of justice. This dramatic storytelling aspect, which features elements of
evil, justice, and heroism, resonates with the public and fuels academic and media interest in
ICL. Prosecutors and civil society actors often reinforce this narrative, portraying trials as moral
imperatives in the fight against impunity;
4. Fourth, ICL serves as a foreign policy tool, offering an alternative to direct military intervention
in response to human rights violations. The establishment of international tribunals, such as
the Rwanda Tribunal, has sometimes been used as a way for states to address atrocities
without engaging in military action. This phenomenon continues, as seen in recent proposals
for ad hoc tribunals for Syria and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. However, ICL’s
effectiveness in conflict resolution remains debatable, with some scholars describing it as a
‘palliative to sovereign failure’ rather than a true solution.
3
, These four factors explain its sustained academic and institutional appeal. However, the diversity of
interests within ICL has created tensions, leading to what some scholars describe as an ‘identity crisis’
for the field.
ICL scholarship must go beyond legal analysis to critically assess the underlying assumptions of the
international criminal justice system. By engaging with the normative and political dimensions of ICL,
scholars can help temper unrealistic expectations and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of
its role in global justice. Given the growing disillusionment with the ICC’s slow progress and political
challenges, there is a pressing need for research that contextualizes ICL’s achievements and limitations
within broader social and political realities.
4
Transnational Criminal Law – Transnational and International Criminal Law – 2024/2025
Literature summary Transnational Criminal Law (3064TCL4VY).
Table of content
WEEK 1 – INTRODUCTION TO TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES ..................... 3
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ........................................................................................................................................... 3
E. van Sliedregt, `International Criminal Law: Over-studied and Underachieving?`, 29(1) Leiden Journal of
International Law (2016) ................................................................................................................................ 3
F. Mégret, `The Unity of International Criminal Law: A Socio-Legal View`, in K.J. Heller, F. Mégret, S.M.H.,
Nouwen, J.D. Ohlin, and D. Robinson (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of International Criminal Law (Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2020), pp. 811-838 .................................................................................................. 5
ADDITIONAL READING MATERIAL................................................................................................................................. 6
N. Boister, `Transnational Criminal Law`, in P. Caeiro, S. Gless, V. Mitsilegas, M. J. Costa, J. De Snaijer, and
G. Theodorakakou (eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Crime and Criminal Justice (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar,
2024), pp. 675-690 ......................................................................................................................................... 6
WEEK 2 – TERRORISM ...................................................................................................................................... 9
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Neil Boister, Chapter 7 Terrorism, in: Neil Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 105-125 ..................................................................................... 9
Amrith Rohan Perera, `The draft United Nations Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism`, in
B. Saul (ed.), Research Handbook on International Law and Terrorism (2nd Edition), Edward Elgar
Publishing, 2020, pp. 120-128. ..................................................................................................................... 11
Roberta Arnold, `Terrorism, war crimes and the International Criminal Court`, in B. Saul (ed.), Research
Handbook on International Law and Terrorism (2nd Edition), Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020, pp. 271-284.
...................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental
freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul, 17 January 2024, paragraphs 10 to 14............................. 13
WEEK 3 – DRUGS TRAFFICKING AND TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME ................................................... 14
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 14
Neil Boister, Chapter 6 Drug trafficking, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 89-104. .................................................................................... 14
Neil Boister, Chapter 8 Transnational Organized Crime, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational
Criminal Law (2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 126-145. .................................................... 18
Pablo Kalmanovitz, Can criminal organizations be non-State parties to armed conflict? In International
Review of the Red Cross (2023), 105 (923), 618–636. .................................................................................. 21
Currie and Leon, COPLA: A Transnational Criminal Court for Latin America and the Caribbean, Nordic
Journal of International Law, 2019, 587-613. .............................................................................................. 23
Vanda Felbab-Brown, ‘Pipe dreams: The Taliban and drugs from the 1990s into its new regime’ at
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/pipe-dreams-the-taliban-and-drugs-from-the-1990s-into-its-new-
regime/ ......................................................................................................................................................... 25
WEEK 4 – MARITIME PIRACY .......................................................................................................................... 28
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 28
Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 45-
55 (Chapter 2 Piracy) .................................................................................................................................... 28
Gottlieb, ‘International cooperation in combating modern forms of maritime piracy: Legal and policy
dimensions’, PhD Thesis ............................................................................................................................... 31
WEEK 5 – CORRUPTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING ....................................................................................... 33
1
, PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 33
Neil Boister, Chapter 9 Corruption, in: Neil Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2 nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018 ........................................................................................................ 33
Neil Boister, Chapter 10 Money Laundering, in: Neil Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law
(2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 146-186 ............................................................................ 35
M. L. Wolf, R. Goldstone, R. Rotberg, ‘The progressing proposal for an international anti-corruption court’,
American Academy of Art and Science ......................................................................................................... 36
Anton Moiseienko, et al., War Funder and Profiteers: Economic Complicity in International Crimes in
Ukraine and Beyond, ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy, ANU Law School, ................................ 38
Typology of Inbound Human Trafficking in Cambodia Cyber-scams Compounds,” ..................................... 40
WEEK 6 – HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MIGRANT SMUGGLING ....................................................................... 42
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 42
Neil Boister, Chapter 4 Slavery and human trafficking, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational
Criminal Law (2nd Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 56-75 ......................................................... 42
Neil Boister, Chapter 5 Migrant Smuggling, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd
Edition), Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 76-88 ....................................................................................... 44
Yvon Dandurand, Criminalizing Human Trafficking Has Not Made a Difference: A Law Enforcement Failure,
in Journal of Human Trafficking, Vol 10, 2024, pp 383-387. ........................................................................ 46
Valsamis Mitsilegas, The normative foundations of the criminalization of human smuggling: Exploring the
fault lines between European and international law, in New Journal of European Criminal Law, Vol. 10(1),
2019, pp. 68-85............................................................................................................................................. 48
WEEK 7 – DISTINCTION TCL-ICL REVISITED: APPLICATION TO CRIMINALIZATION OF DAMAGING THE
ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 50
PRESCRIBED LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 50
Claus Kress, ‘International Criminal Law’, in Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, OUP
2009, only part A .......................................................................................................................................... 50
\Neil Boister, Part I Introduction, in: Boister, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law (2nd Edition),
Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 3-44 ....................................................................................................... 52
Vanuata proposal ecocide ............................................................................................................................ 54
2
,Week 1 – Introduction to transnational criminal law and
transnational crimes
Prescribed literature
E. van Sliedregt, `International Criminal Law: Over-studied and Underachieving?`, 29(1)
Leiden Journal of International Law (2016)
1. INTRODUCTION
Neil Boister’s book, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law, has been praised for highlighting a
field that has long been overshadowed by international criminal law (ICL). The rise of international
criminal tribunals, culminating in the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), brought
ICL into prominence, leaving transnational criminal law (TCL) largely neglected. Robert Currie argues
that this focus on ICL is disproportionate, as it has become oversaturated with academic study. While
ICL remains an exciting field, Currie suggests that its legal and scholarly inquiries are excessive,
especially given the limited achievements in practice. The ICC, for instance, has only completed three
trials from indictment to judgment in its first fourteen years, a pace that does not match the extensive
academic attention devoted to the field. Currie’s critique prompts a broader reflection on the future
of ICL scholarship, particularly considering the challenges it faces in achieving practical results.
2. ICL’S ATTRACTION
ICL’s continued allure can be attributed to several factors:
1. First, its novelty has played a crucial role in attracting scholars and practitioners. The
establishment of ad hoc tribunals in the 1990s marked the birth of ICL as an independent
discipline, drawing enthusiasm from those eager to participate in shaping a new legal system.
Although its initial novelty has faded, the field remains dynamic, with ongoing debates over
legal principles and inconsistent rulings highlighting its evolving nature;
2. Second, ICL is characterized by norm entrepreneurialism, wherein states and legal scholars
actively shape its principles by transplanting domestic legal norms into international law. Some
states, like France and Germany, have sought to influence ICC procedures by introducing
elements from their domestic legal systems. While this comparative approach enriches ICL, it
also presents challenges, as the amalgamation of legal traditions can lead to inconsistencies
and misunderstandings among practitioners from different backgrounds;
3. Third, ICL captivates interest due to the gravity of the crimes it addresses. International
crimes, often labeled as mass atrocity crimes, are considered among the most serious
violations of international law. Trials are framed as pivotal historical moments, contributing to
a broader narrative of justice. This dramatic storytelling aspect, which features elements of
evil, justice, and heroism, resonates with the public and fuels academic and media interest in
ICL. Prosecutors and civil society actors often reinforce this narrative, portraying trials as moral
imperatives in the fight against impunity;
4. Fourth, ICL serves as a foreign policy tool, offering an alternative to direct military intervention
in response to human rights violations. The establishment of international tribunals, such as
the Rwanda Tribunal, has sometimes been used as a way for states to address atrocities
without engaging in military action. This phenomenon continues, as seen in recent proposals
for ad hoc tribunals for Syria and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. However, ICL’s
effectiveness in conflict resolution remains debatable, with some scholars describing it as a
‘palliative to sovereign failure’ rather than a true solution.
3
, These four factors explain its sustained academic and institutional appeal. However, the diversity of
interests within ICL has created tensions, leading to what some scholars describe as an ‘identity crisis’
for the field.
ICL scholarship must go beyond legal analysis to critically assess the underlying assumptions of the
international criminal justice system. By engaging with the normative and political dimensions of ICL,
scholars can help temper unrealistic expectations and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of
its role in global justice. Given the growing disillusionment with the ICC’s slow progress and political
challenges, there is a pressing need for research that contextualizes ICL’s achievements and limitations
within broader social and political realities.
4
