Seminar given by Prof. Susanne Karstedt from the School of Law, University of Leeds on 28 January 2010 at the Department of Sociology, University of Essex Abstract: Transitional justice turns common notions of crime, criminals and criminal justice upside down. Members of the formerly ruling elites, including high ranking members of the armed forces and the government find themselves in the dock accused of the most heinous crimes and human rights abuses. Transitional societies are deeply divided along the lines of communities of victims and offenders, of those who as former victims are now “defended” and those who as offenders are now “defeated”. The “truth” about the events is highly contested among these groups that nonetheless have to forge a common memory of what had happened, and have to find a common understanding of their past.

1. Defining Criminals and Constructing Memories Susanne Karstedt Professor of Criminology University of Leeds ©2010 Sentenced Nazi war criminals in West Germany 1945 - 1970

3. Collective Memories in Post-war Europe ‘ without … collective amnesia Europe’s astonishing post-war recovery would not have been possible ’ Tony Judt (2005: 61)

6. Voices from the perpetrators “ My critics may have the chronicle, but history belongs to me, and that is where the final verdict will be decided.” Former Argentina junta commander Emilio Massera

7. Voices from the perpetrators ““ History is only an opinion.” Defence counsel in the Touvier trial in France, commenting on the testimony of a historian

26. The space of international networks Albert Kesselring was Field Marshal of the German Army in Southern Europe and North Africa, finally in Italy War crime: Responsible for the execution of 365 hostages in retaliation for an attack on the German Police by the Italian Resistance Army.

27. The space of international networks Trial: One of the last British War Crimes Trials conducted in Venice in 1947 Sentence: Death penalty Commuted to life sentence shortly afterwards Commuted to 21 years imprisonment Held in prison in Werl, West Germany Release: 1952 after being dignosed with cancer