Processing the Past

When societies have experienced periods of devastating violence, it is important that those responsible are convicted in a court of law. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has been calling attention to the importance of addressing the past for decades. The International Criminal Court established on the initiative of the United Nations is the appropriate institution for this. The international community should also work towards all states submitting to the jurisdiction of the Court in The Hague.

by Gerhard Wahlers

The break-up of Yugoslavia was characterised by bloody wars, which turned the former brother nations into bitter enemies. This is still affecting the democratic development in the majority of the Yugoslav successor states and the relationships between them. Twenty years after the ICTY was set up, the Tribunal is still playing an important role for the democratic development of the societies that have emerged from the former Yugoslavia and for shaping the relationships between them.

by Henri Bohnet, Anja Czymmeck, Michael A. Lange, Sabina Wölkner

How South East Europe’s Media Deal With The Past

Coming to terms with a country’s political past is closely linked to the mass media, as they are the key to changing public opinion. It is only with their support that a general acceptance of democratic structures, not to mention a new perception of history, can be achieved. In South East Europe, this can be seen not only in the way the media deal with the Communist era, but also in their handling of the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s. There is a need to improve both good quality reporting and critical self-reflection on the part of the media.

by Christian Spahr

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), better known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, attempt to deliver justice for victimised Cambodians and the society at large between 1975 and 1979. Despite the court’s endemic weaknesses, the simple fact that former senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge Regime stand accused of the most unimaginable atrocities is a miracle and an achievement in the fight against impunity for mass human rights violations.

by Denis Schrey, Simon M. Meisenberg

China Between Remembering And Forgetting

There are numerous cataclysmic phases in contemporary Chinese history that are in need of a critical reappraisal. “The Great Leap Forward” (1958-1961) and the “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” (1966-1976) are just two examples of deep scars on the collective Chinese psyche. In 1981, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) detailed the framework for a party-politically approved interpretation of the past, which is still cemented in history books today. Beijing is also striving for the monopoly on the accepted historiography in international exchanges.

by Regina Larkö (geb. Edelbauer)

The Contribution Of Chinese Enterprises To Sustainable Development

The Chinese government is increasingly reliant upon the support of society in general and enterprises in particular in order to achieve significant reductions in emissions. In recent years, ever more multinational corporations engaged in China and Chinese enterprises have stepped up commitments in the fields of sustainable utilisation and climate protection. However, the distance between Beijing and locations in Western and Southern China impede functional supervision measures, resulting in a strong discrepancy between compulsory duties and their actual realisation.

by Andreas Dittrich