Culture Under Cross-Examination - International Justice and the Special Court for Sierra Leone

This book examines the challenges posed by the largely unfamiliar culture in which the Special Court for Sierra Leone operates.

List of contents

1. White man's justice? Sierra Leone and the expanding project of international law; 2. The story of the CDF trial; 3. An unconventional army: chains of command in a patrimonial society; 4. Facts, metaphysics and mysticism: magical powers and the law; 5. We cannot accept any cultural consideration: the child soldiers charge; 6. 'He's not very forthright': finding the facts in a culture of secrecy; 7. Cultural issues in the RUF, AFRC, and Charles Taylor trials; 8. Conclusion: from legal imperialism to dialogics.

About the author

Tim Kelsall works as an Associate of the Africa, Politics and Power Programme and as a Visiting Fellow at the Berkeley War Crimes Studies Center based in Phnom Penh. In the past he has taught Politics at the universities of Oxford and Newcastle and has been an editor of the journal African Affairs.

Summary

Using an approach that combines anthropological and political analysis, this book examines the roles of military command, mystical powers, child soldiers, forced marriage and fact-finding in the Special Court for Sierra Leone, arguing that cultural differences have obstructed justice and that international justice requires a more multicultural approach.

Product details

• Authors: Tim Kelsall, Tim (University of California Kelsall, Kelsall Tim
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 20.06.2013
• EAN: 9781107666191
• ISBN: 978-1-107-66619-1
• No. of pages: 314
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Law and Society; Cambridge Studies in Law and S; Cambridge Studies in Law and S; Cambridge Studies in Law and Society
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Law > International law, foreign law; Sierra Leone, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Human Rights, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Genocide & War Crimes, LAW / Courts, LAW / International, LAW / Public, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography, Public International Law, Social and cultural anthropology, War Crimes, Public international law: humanitarian law, Law & society, Law and society, sociology of law, International law: courts and procedures