This edited volume provides a broad perspective on the International Criminal Court's development over time and explores some of its topical issues, achievements, challenges and critiques. The anthology combines reflections from scholars and practitioners and includes voices from inside and outside the Court, featuring multiple readings of its activities, practice and developments. In line with the volume's title, the authors portray the establishment and development of the Court (hence the theme 'past'), critically engage with its successes and challenges ('present'), and draw conclusions on its achievements and way forward ('future'). The book examines five key topics: prosecutorial policy and strategy, jurisdiction and admissibility, victims and witnesses, defence issues, and legitimacy and independence. It includes a number of papers and speeches given at the Nuremberg Forum 2018.

The book includes chapters by Benjamin B. Ferencz, Leila Nadya Sadat, Christopher R.F. Hale, Katarína Smigová, Fannie Lafontaine and Claire Magnoux, André C.U. Nwadikwa-Jonathan and Nicholas E. Ortiz, Fergal Gaynor, Andrea Marrone, Anderson Javiel Dirocie De León, Adedeji Adekunle, Ellie Smith, Christoph Safferling and Gurgen Petrossian, Juan Pablo Pérez-León-Acevedo, Hilde Farthofer, Benjamin Gumpert and Yulia Nuzban, Philippe Currat and Brice van Erps, Cara Cunningham Warren, Nicolai von Maltitz and Thomas Körner, Shannon Fyfe, Barbara Lochbihler, Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov, Heiko Maas, Fatou Bensouda and Bertram Schmitt, in that order; and by the editors themselves. The book contains forewords by Piotr Hofmański (President, ICC) and Mama Koité Doumbia (Chair, Board of Trust Fund for Victims, ICC).