Collective Responsibility and Accountability Under International Law

Shane describes how international courts understand responsibility and guilt, collective guilt, and liability for the acts of others, then moves to the decline of the concept of collective responsibility under international humanitarian law, specifically in the case of wartime conduct. He works through the concept of collective punishment in agreements dating back to the nineteenth century and focuses on the taking of hostages and belligerent reprisals using Nuremberg and the Geneva Convention as case studies. He details the more recent understanding of international criminal justice in such situations as conspiracy, a common plan, joint criminal enterprises and organizations, and superior responsibility. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Dr. Shane Darcy is Lecturer in Law at Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster.