Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

This book explores the ambiguities of the French law of genocide by exposing the inexplicable dichotomy between a progressive theory and a disinclined practice. Based on the observation that the crime of genocide has remained absent from French courtrooms to the benefit of crimes against humanity, this research dissects the reasons for this absence, reviewing and analyzing the potential legal obstacles to the judicial use of the law of genocide before contemplating the definitional impact of this judicial reluctance and the consequent confusion between the two crimes. In using the French law of genocide and related case law on crimes against humanity as its focal points, the book further adopts a more general standpoint, suggesting that the French misunderstandings of the crime of genocide might ultimately be symptomatic of a more widespread misconception of the crime of genocide as a crime perpetrated against 'a group.' This is a fascinating study for anyone interested in the crime of genocide and international criminal law. (Series: Studies in International and Comparative Criminal Law)

Caroline Fournet is Associate Professor and Rosalind Franklin Fellow at the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology at the University of Groningen .