Conflicts and International Crimes: An Introduction to Research Methods

Conflicts and International Crimes: an Introduction to Research Methods gives an overview of basic research methods and statistics for the analysis of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. After an introduction to general social science research methodology, it discusses particularities of criminological research as well as tailored techniques for criminology, such as victim surveys and randomized response techniques. Next it discusses specific techniques for assessing the prevalence of international crimes, borrowing from epidemiology, biology and social science/criminology. Methods for the analysis of the etiology and responses to international crimes are illustrated, as well as general social science and tailored methods for the analysis of the impact of conflicts. The book uses a minimum of formulas and many examples from well-known recent conflicts in which atrocities were committed, such as Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and Darfur, as well as from more distant conflicts. It is geared towards students as well as social science and legal scholars studying international crimes and their aftermath.