The extraordinary development of international justice over the past century and in recent years has ushered in the norm of non-impunity, even for the world's strongmen. Some argue, however, that the system is now broken and that things are going backwards.

Many of the worst crimes – in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere -- remain unpunished. Steve Crawshaw, author of Prosecuting the Powerful: War Crimes and the Battle for Justice, in conversation with Denisa Kostovicova, addresses the challenges and ways forward.

Meet our speaker and chair
Steve Crawshaw is former UK director at Human Rights Watch, former director of the Office of the Secretary-General at Amnesty International and former chief foreign correspondent at the Independent. He is the author of books on Russia, Germany, and creative protest. His latest book, Prosecuting the Powerful (Bridge Street Press) was published in February 2025.

Denisa Kostovicova (@DenisaKost) is Professor of Global Politics at the LSE European Institute. She is a leading scholar of conflict and peace processes, and the author of Reconciliation by Stealth: How People Talk about War Crimes and Kosovo: The Politics of Identity and Space. Professor Kostovicova has also edited a number of volumes on post-conflict reconciliation, justice and civil society. Professor Kostovicova’s award-winning academic research has informed policy making at the EU, UN, and in the UK.

More about this event
Established in 1991, the LSE European Institute is a world-leading centre for the study of Europe in its global context. With eight master’s degrees and a doctoral programme, a vibrant research community, and a world-leading public events programme, our work spans Political Economy, Politics & Policy, Culture & Society, and Migration.

Prosecuting the powerful: confronting the challenges of international justice

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Prosecuting the powerful: confronting the challenges of international justice

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