Why punish perpetrators of mass atrocities? : purposes of punishment in international criminal law /

The goal of Why Punish Perpetrators of Mass Atrocities? is to explain international criminal law, how punishment works, and the purposes behind such punishment. This goal is lofty and could be lost in the intricacies of the law, but Jessberger and Geneuss (both, law, Univ. of Hamburg, Germany) do a good job of arranging the discussion. The sections are topical, and the essays can be read in order or out of sequence. The six essays in the first section explain the framework of international law and criminology. The second and third sections (seven and six essays, respectively) consider the rationale behind punishment and the consequences of punishment. This arrangements creates a natural flow for sequential reading, but the reader can choose where to start, or simply read one or two essays on the topic of her/his interest. Written by experts on international criminal law, this volume will intrigue lawyers, criminologists, sociologists, and anyone wondering how punishment is achieved when dealing with some of the worst crimes possible. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. --William R. Pruitt, Virginia Wesleyan University