Abstract
Why do some countries implement trials to punish perpetrators of state-sponsored mass killing during civil war? A common explanation is that domestic and international demand for justice pressures the government to implement trials. However, this demand is unlikely to produce prosecutions because state-sponsored violence during fighting provides elites incentive to conceal information after war. The revelation of information concerning the government's atrocities could result in renewed domestic instability or international sanction. Therefore, a government that has committed atrocities during the civil war, and emerges victorious from the conflict, should be unlikely to pursue trials in the aftermath of the war.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 396-413 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Studies in Conflict and Terrorism |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 5 |
Early online date | 29 May 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Keywords
- civil war
- mass killing
- international sanction
- confllict