Introduction: researching the punishment of atrocity crimes

This introduction presents the core idea and structure of the Research Handbook. Taking a broad approach to atrocity crimes, the Handbook brings together original scholarship on the punishment of these transgressions in both national and international legal systems. As such, the Handbook aims to contribute to new perspectives on the punishment of atrocity crimes – a crucial legitimating and practical aspect of legal and societal efforts to deal with these crimes that have, nonetheless, often stood in the shadow of research focused on earlier stages of the process, in particular investigation, prosecution, and adjudication. In addition to framing the book, presenting its structure, and the main findings of individual chapters, the introduction highlights the different methods deployed to produce these results. The diverse methods used by authors in the Handbook contribute distinct perspectives on the creation, use, and results of different forms of punishment of atrocity crimes that can serve as inspiration for future studies.