This edited collection is the first full assessment of the new field of perpetrator studies, which examines why individuals commit mass atrocities such as genocide or terrorism. It includes contributions from an array of disciplines including criminology, history, law, sociology, psychology, political science, religious studies, and anthropology.

Benjamin B. Ferencz: Preface Alette Smeulers, Barbora Holá, and Maartje Weerdesteijn: Introduction PART I: PERPETRATOR STUDIES 1: Alette Smeulers: Historical Overview of Perpetrator Studies 2: Alette Smeulers, Barbora Holá and Maartje Weerdesteijn: Theories, Methods, and Evidence PART II: REFLECTING ON METHODS AND SOURCES 3: Chandra Lekha Sriram: Perpetrators, Fieldwork, and Ethical Concerns 4: Mina Rauschenbach: Interviewing Perpetrators against the Backdrop of Ethical Concerns and Reflexivity 5: Thijs Bouwknegt and Adina-Loredana Nistor: Studying 'Perpetrators' through the Lens of the Criminal Trial PART III: STUDYING PERPETRATION 6: Ugur Ümit Üngö: Perpetration as a Process: A Historical-Sociological Model 7: Kjell Anderson: The Margins of Perpetration: Role-Shifting in Genocide 8: Erin Jessee: Beyond Perpetrators: Complex Political Actors surrounding the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda PART IV: STUDYING PERPETRATORS: CASE STUDIES 9: Jonathan Leader Maynard: Studying Perpetrator Ideologies in Atrocity Crimes 10: Pieter Nanninga: Religion and International Crimes: the Case of the Islamic State 11: Georg Frerks: The Female Tigers of Sri Lanka: The Legitimation of Recruitment and Fight 12: Maartje Weerdesteijn: The Rationality and Reign of Paul Kagame PART V: STUDYING PERPETRATORS ON TRIAL: CASE STUDIES 13: Caroline Fournet: Nothing Must Remain: The (In)visibility of Atrocity Crimes and the Perpetrators' Strategies using the Corpses of their Victims 14: Iva Vukusic: Plausible Deniability: The Challenges in Prosecuting Paramilitary Violence in the former Yugoslavia 15: Mirza Buljubasic and Barbora Holá: Perpetrators on Trial: Characteristics of War Crime Perpetrators Tried by Courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina & ICTY 16: Susanne Karstedt: 'Like Mirrors of Morality': Social Support for Nazi War Criminals in Post-War Germany Alette Smeulers: Concluding Thoughts

Tackles the dominant themes in the emergent field of perpetrator studies Examines prominent case studies ranging from Nazi Germany, to Rwanda, Sir Lanka and the Islamic state through an inter-disciplinary lens Critically reflects on the current state of scholarship drawing out key research on theories, methods, and evidence

Alette Smeulers is Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology of International Crimes at the University of Groningen. She is a political scientist by training but specialized in the psychology of perpetrators and did her PhD in international criminal law. Her research focuses on the international crimes, the causes of these types of crimes, and the perpetrators of these crimes as well as the international criminal justice system. In her research she takes an inter- and multidisciplinary approach. She has published extensively on these subjects and has presented numerous papers at international conferences and at a wide range of universities in Europe and the United States. Maartje Weerdesteijn is Assistant Professor at VU University Amsterdam and a Researcher at the Center for International Criminal Justice. She obtained a PhD from Tilburg University, Department of Criminal Law, a Master in International Crimes and Criminology from VU University Amsterdam (Cum Laude), and a Bachelor in European Studies from Maastricht University (Cum Laude). In 2014 she was a visiting scholar at Griffith University Australia at the Griffith Asia Institute. Her book The Rationality of Dictators: Towards a more effective implementation of the responsibility to protect was published by Intersentia. Barbora Holá is Associate Professor at VU University Amsterdam and Senior Researcher at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR). She is co-director of the Center for International Criminal Justice and co-chair of the European Society of Criminology Group on Atrocity Crimes and Transitional Justice. She has an interdisciplinary focus and studies transitional justice after atrocities, in particular (international) criminal trials, sentencing of international crimes, enforcement of internaional sentences, rehabilitation of war criminals, and life after trial at international criminal tribunals. She has published extensively on these subjects and presented at international conferences and universities in Europe, Africa, Australia, and the America's.

Tackles the dominant themes in the emergent field of perpetrator studies Examines prominent case studies ranging from Nazi Germany, to Rwanda, Sir Lanka and the Islamic state through an inter-disciplinary lens Critically reflects on the current state of scholarship drawing out key research on theories, methods, and evidence