Trials and Errors: Principle and Pragmatism in Strategies of International Justice

Abstract

This paper argues that pursuit of justice via prosecution of the perpetrators after incidences of human rights violation is often ineffective and argues instead for solutions such as amnesty or truth commissions. Snyder and Vinajmuri argue that a norm-governed political order must be based on a political bargain among contending groups and on the creation of robust administrative institutions that can predictably enforce the law. They assert that preventing atrocities and enhancing respect for the law will frequently depend on striking politically expedient bargains that create effective political coalitions to contain the power of potential perpetrators of abuses. This paper addresses the different aspects of promoting these strategies of international justice.