Introduction

The way in which International Courts and Tribunals (ICTs) handle inter-State dispute settlement procedures and address community interests reflects the basic question of how courts regard the nature and scope of their own judicial function. Dispute settlement cannot solely capture the full relevance of international courts’ decisions. International courts are multifunctional actors not limited to the bilateral dispute settlement between States. They perform other important activities, such as the development of normative expectations—in order to achieve international adjudication’s full potential, which is the realisation of justice. By developing international law, the role of ICTs encompasses the protection and promotion of the international community and its values. The important nature of this role enshrines ICTs’ function as one of ‘global governance’.