Genocide, Torture, and Terrorism: Ranking International Crimes and Justifying Humanitarian Intervention

ISBN-13: 9781137415103 / Angielski / Twarda / 2015 / 244 str.

Thomas W. Simon

Opis

In this book, the author argues that politicians use our discomfort in 'ranking' moral atrocities to manipulate our sense of injustice and serve their interests. He argues that while genocides such as the Holocaust and Rwanda are universally recognized as the worst crimes imaginable, the War on Terror has distorted our sense of atrocity by minimizing torture and exaggerating terrorism. Simon advocates for an international criminal code with clearly defined and ranked injustices that would rehabilitate humanitarian intervention and replace an impotent duty to protect with a committed duty to act.

Recenzje

"Simon's book . . . challenges prevalent notions of terrorism and torture and advocates for a more robust duty to act in the face of injustice. A worthy and well-researched endeavor that provides unique insight into discussions about international and transnational crimes." Liu Daqun, Judge of the Appeals Chamber, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

"[This book] will energize the current debate over how and why we need to make comparisons when dealing with crimes like genocide, torture, and terrorism and when we are required to intervene in such contexts." - Steven T. Katz, Boston University, USA

"Bold, lucid, challenging, courageous, on target . . . . As compassionate and humane as it is timely and hard-hitting, Simon's analysis needs to inform politics and policy making at home and abroad." - John K. Roth, Claremont McKenna College, USA

"Some crimes are worse than others, and we should not be afraid to say so. . . [this book] is necessary reading for those who wish to think seriously about the intersection of moral philosophy and international law." Chad Flanders, Saint Louis University School of Law, USA

"[A] brilliantly original book . . . . Indispensable reading for anyone seeking the enhanced implementation of international criminal law." Richard Falk, Princeton University, USA

"[T]his may be the book that changes the conversation to render international criminal law a more potent force in the fight against global injustices." - Michael P. Scharf, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, USA

Spis treści

Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART I: COMPARING INJUSTICES: THE CENTRALITY OF GENOCIDE
1. Comparing Wrongs
2. Comparing Genocides
3. Rwanda: Devalued Injustice
PART II: COMPARATIVE APPLICATIONS: WAR ON TERROR'S DISTORTIONS
4. Torture: Undervalued Injustice
5. Terrorism: Overvalued Injustice
PART III: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
6. Universal Wrongs: Jus Cogens
7. Duty to Act: Beyond Duty to Protect
Conclusion
Appendix A: Genocide, Torture, and Terrorism Compared
Appendix B: International Crimes Compared
Bibliography
Index

O autorze

Thomas W. Simon is Professor of International Law at Johns Hopkins University s School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, China. His books include: Laws of Genocide, Ethnic Identity and Minority Protection, Democracy & Social Injustice, Law & Philosophy, and China s Changing Legal System. He has held law fellowships at Harvard Law School (USA), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), and University of Malaya (Malaysia).