Between Justice and Stability (eBook)

Exploring the impact of the International Criminal Tribunal (ICTY) on regime change in Serbia, this book examines the relationship between international criminal justice and democratisation. It analyses in detail the repercussions of the ICTY on domestic political dynamics and provides an explanatory account of Serbias transition to democracy.Lack of cooperation and compliance with the ICTY was one of the biggest obstacles to Serbias integration into Euro-Atlantic political structures following the overthrow of Miloevi. By scrutinising the attitudes of the Serbian authorities towards the ICTY and the prosecution of war crimes, Ostoji explores the complex processes set in motion by the international communitys policies of conditionality and by the prosecution of the former Serbian leadership in The Hague. Drawing on a rich collection of empirical data, he demonstrates that the success of international judicial intervention is premised upon democratic consolidation and that transitional justice policies are only ever likely to take root when they do not undermine the stability and legitimacy of political institutions on the ground.