Peace with Justice?

Reviews / Votes

A rich, complex and nuanced presentation of the various motivations and perceptions driving American and European policy on the violence and war crimes in the Balkans. The Royal Institute of International Affairs Williams and Scharf have written the book that everyone who values justice in the face of atrocities must read. Readers will benefit from their thorough research and understanding of both law and politics. Whatever one's views of how peace-building has fused with justice in the Balkans, this book will be the touchstone for all future inquiries. -- David Scheffer, former U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues Nowhere else is the argument for justice norms and accountability procedures addressed with such insight and intelligence. Peace with Justice? makes a distinctive contribution to the vast Balkans literature. -- Richard Falk, Albert G. Milbank Professor of International Law Emeritus, Princeton University Williams and Scharf set out a compelling case for international justice after war crimes. Their study ably captures the development and proceedings of The Hague Tribunal, critically analyzes the price of political fecklessness, and mercilessly skewers the Western politicians who refused to implement the law. A powerful argument based on solid fact. -- Roy Gutman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with Newsweek In 14 chapters with an extensive notes section, the authors not only examine in depth the carnage wrought by the conflict in Yugoslavia, but, more importantly, lay out the steps that they allege will bring about a lasting peace in this blighted portion of Europe. Recommended. CHOICE Williams and Scharf expertly explain in a few hundred pages what I learned the hard way as a division commander in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a United Nations administrator in Kosovo. -- Major General William L. Nash, (ret), former Commander of the U.S. forces in Bosnia An interesting contribution relevant for scholars and policy-makers alike, as it provides a new perspective on the way the norms and institutions of justice worked, did not work, or could have worked better, in the Yugoslav peace-building process. Slavonica In this book, Williams and Scharf shine a spotlight on some of the most egregious improprieties of a few of the worst offenders and demonstrate with agonizing clarity and in abundant detail what a high price was paid to bring an end to the fighting. Williams and Scharf describe the pusillanimity of all the major players. They illuminate how the international community and its strongest and seemingly most accountable actors time and again at crucial moments chose the low road of appeasement instead of the high road of justice and accountability. Slavic Review A valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about how to manage the tensions between the competing values of truth, peace, compassion, and justice in the struggle for peace. European Foreign Affairs Review What is the relationship between peace and justice? Is one possible without the other? In this important new work, Paul R. Williams and Michael P. Scharf examine the norm of justice and the role it played in third-party efforts to bring an end to the Yugoslav wars of dissolution and build piece in the region. In an account of the conflict that is at once thorough and compelling, William and Scharf argue that justice and accountability took second place consistently to the accommodation of political and military leaders tolerant of, if not responsible for, the commission of war crimes. The consequence, they demonstrate, was appeasement that frequently had the effect of encouraging further violence and atrocities. -- Richard Caplan, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford Seer