An Outsider’s View from Inside

Abstract

Abstract Acquittal in international criminal law has long been disregarded by the governing bodies of international criminal courts. However, the acquittal exposes constitutive (and constituent) components of this very body of law. The authors draw conclusions from semi-directive interviews with (acquitted and condemned) people tried by the ad hoc tribunals. Their approach creates an opportunity to highlight and comprehend — from the perspective of the acquitted individual — the failures of the functioning of international criminal justice, which is focused on the idea of guilt. Moreover, this research shows how the position of tried individuals affects their perception and acceptance of international criminal law.