ThisbooksituatesthewarinSyriawithintheactualandimaginedsystemofinternationalcriminaljustice.ItexploresthelegalimpedimentsanddiplomaticchallengesthathaveledtothefataltrinityaffectingSyria:themassivecommissionofinternationalcrimesthataresubjecttodetailedinvestigationsanddocumentationbutwhoseperpetratorshaveenjoyedvirtuallycompleteimpunity.Giventhistragicstateofaffairs,thebooktracksanumberofaccountabilitysolutionsbeingexploredwithinmultilateralinitiativesandbycivilsocietyactors,includinginnovationsofinstitutionaldesign;therenewedutilityofarangeofdomesticjurisdictionalprinciples(includingtherevivalofuniversaljurisdictioninEurope);theemergenceofcreativeinvestigativeanddocumentationtechniques,technologies,andorganizations;andtherejectionofstateconsentasapreconditionfortheexerciseofjurisdiction.Engagingbothlawandpolicyaroundinternationaljustice,thetextoffersasetofjusticeblueprints,withinandwithouttheInternationalCriminalCourt.Italsoconsiderstheutility,propriety,andpracticalityofpursuingatransitionaljusticeprogramwithoutagenuinepoliticaltransition.Alltold,thebookattemptstocaptureresultsofthecreativeenergyradiatingfrommembersoftheinternationalcommunityintentonadvancingtheaccountabilitynorminSyriaeveninthefaceofgeopoliticalblockageswithintheU.N.SecurityCouncil.Insodoing,itpresentstherangeofjuridicalmeasures-bothcriminalandcivil-thatwouldbeavailabletotheinternationalcommunitytorespondtothecrisis,ifonlythepoliticalwillexisted.
