
Prosecuting Heads of State
Cambridge University Press
Published on 16. March 2009
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-0-521-49109-9 (ISBN)
Description
Since 1990, 65 former heads of state or government have been legitimately prosecuted for serious human rights or financial crimes. Many of these leaders were brought to trial in reasonably free and fair judicial processes, and some served time in prison as a result. This book explores the reasons for the meteoric rise in trials of senior leaders and the motivations, public dramas, and intrigues that accompanied efforts to bring them to justice. Drawing on an analysis of the 65 cases, the book examines the emergence of regional trends in Europe and Latin America and contains case studies of high-profile trials of former government leaders: Augusto Pinochet (Chile), Alberto Fujimori (Peru), Slobodan Milosevic (former Yugoslavia), Charles Taylor (Liberia and Sierra Leone), and Saddam Hussein (Iraq) - studies written by experts who closely followed their cases and their impacts on wider societies. This is the only book that examines the rise in the number of domestic and international trials globally and tells the tales in readable prose and with fascinating details.
Reviews / Votes
'... Lutz and Reiger have put together a rich and compelling examination of a topic whose importance will continue to grow, particularly as countries in North Africa are in the midst of democratic revolutions in which former dictators are being toppled and the word 'justice' is on everyone's minds.' Alison Smith, International Journal of Transitional Justice 'Prosecuting Heads of State is an excellent contribution to the literature covering international criminal justice. For those that have been following this topic, it also brings some fresh air by underlining the successes of international criminal justice after years of impunity.' Vincent Roobaert, Assistant Legal Adviser, NC3A '... a solid analysis and a valuable resource for scholars and practitioners alike ... looks beyond trial transcripts and official records to the impact that international justice institutions have had or should have, providing scholars, practitioners and the public with analyses that stand in contrast to the uncritical support often seen elsewhere.' International Journal of Transitional JusticeMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
1 Tables, unspecified; 3 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
658 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-49109-9 (9780521491099)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Ellen L. Lutz | Caitlin Reiger
Prosecuting Heads of State
E-Book
05/2009
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€29.49
Available for download

Ellen L. Lutz | Caitlin Reiger
Prosecuting Heads of State
Book
03/2009
Cambridge University Press
€52.40
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Ellen L. Lutz is the Executive Director of Cultural Survival, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She previously directed the Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution and taught international human rights law, international criminal law, and other international law subjects at Tufts University's Fletcher School. From 1989 to 1994, she served as the California Director for Human Rights Watch and as HRW's principal researcher on Mexico. She has written widely on human rights and conflict resolution, international and transnational accountability for human rights violations, indigenous rights, and human rights in Latin America. Lutz received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (1985) and her M.A. in anthropology from Bryn Mawr College (1978). Caitlin Reiger, a recognized expert on international prosecutions, is Deputy Director of the Prosecutions Program at the International Center for Transitional Justice. From 2003 to 2005 she was the chamber's senior legal advisor to the judges of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. In 2001 she co-founded and served as legal research coordinator of the Judicial System Monitoring Program in East Timor and later appeared as defense counsel before East Timor's Special Panels for Serious Crimes. Reiger has provided extensive policy advice and comparative research on national-international tribunals for serious human rights violations. Reiger manages ICTJ's Cambodia program and formerly managed the ICTJ's former Yugoslavia program. She received a BA in history and an LLB from the University of Melbourne (1996), and an LLM (in international law/human rights) from the London School of Economics (2003).
Content
1. Introduction; 2. Prosecutions of heads of state in Europe Ellen L. Lutz; 3. Prosecutions of heads of state in Latin America Naomi Roht-Arriaza; 4. The multiple prosecutions of Augusto Pinochet Naomi Roht-Arriaza; 5. A leader takes flight: the indictment of Alberto Fujimori Ronald Gamarra; 6. Charm and punishment: how Joseph Estrada, the Philippines' leading man, became its most famous prisoner Abby Wood; 7. Shifting legitimacy: the trials of Frederick Chiluba Paul Lewis; 8. A justice 'trickle-down': Rwanda's first post-genocide president on trial Lars Waldorf; 9. Justice squandered? The trial of Slobodan Milosevic Emir Suljagic; 10. A big man in a small cell: Charles Taylor and the special court for Sierra Leone Abdul Tejan Cole; 11. Political pedagogy, Baghdad style: the Dujail trial of Saddam Hussein Miranda Sissons and Marieke Wierda; 12. Conclusion Ellen L. Lutz and Caitlin Reiger.