The legacy of the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which is the focus of this book, was established in 1993 and is due to complete its trials by 2011. Easily the most credible and prodigious of the international tribunals established in this period, the ICTY is by far the most important source of case law on international criminal law and will most likely serve as an important frame of reference for the International Criminal Court and other courts dealing with international crimes, including national courts. The publication of the present book, in 2011, coincides with the year of cessation of trial activity at the ICTY. The book's purpose is to mark this significant milestone in international law with a series of in-depth, critical, reflections on the institution's legacy by eminent scholars and practitioners. Seventeen chapters analyse the main features of the ICTY's work, in an unprecedented examination of the institution's legitimacy, core principles, methodologies, unstated assumptions, political circumstances, and impact - and indeed, its legacy. The chapters tackle the problem of discussing the legacy of such a complex institution by carving out the most important component themes that have challenged the institution and presenting the results of research.