[SCL Lecture] A typology of perpetrators of mass atrocities

Who are the perpetrators of mass atrocities? Why do they commit such crimes? How can we stop them? Please join us on February 14, for a free SCL Lecture, co-organised with the IHCL platform, with keynote speaker Alette Smeulers, professor of international crimes  on her recent book 'Perpetrators of mass atrocities (Routledge 2024)'.  

International crimes are by definition manifestations of collective violence in which many people are involved. These perpetrators are not all the same though, as there are many differences between them in their role, rank and motives.

The aim of this presentation is to present the different types of perpetrators and explain how they work together, what their role in the overall dynamic is and how diverse their motives can be. It aims to thus give a better understanding of the interaction and dynamic between the various types perpetrators and will provide us with a better and deeper understanding of why human beings commit mass atrocities.

This understanding does not only have a scientific value but it can also help both policy makers aiming to prevent atrocities and international criminal lawyers to,  in a fairer way, attribute individual criminal responsibility by taking the actual level of blameworthiness of each type of perpetrator into account - based on a better understanding of the social dynamic which shapes human behaviour.

Speaker:

Prof. dr. Alette Smeulers (University of Groningen and University College Groningen) is chair in international crimes and conduct inter- and multidisciplinary research on the causes of international crimes, perpetrators of international crimes and the international criminal justice system. She has just published a book called Perpetrators of mass atrocities (Routledge 2024)  and has a podcast series called Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal?  also on perpetrators of mass atrocities.

Panelists:

• Dr. Sergey Vasiliev (Associate Professor, University of Amsterdam)
• Pubudu Sachithanandan LLM (Trial Lawyer, International Criminal Court) to be confirmed
• Dr. Maartje Weerdesteijn (Assistant Professor, VU Amsterdam)

Moderator:

• Dr. Gabriele Chlevickaite (Researcher, T.M.C. Asser Institute)

Programme

• 18.30 Door open
• 19.00 Welcome
• 19.05 Keynote lecture by Prof. Alette Smeulers
• 19:45 Panel discussion
• 20:15 Q&A