Author Archives: Mark Kersten

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About Mark Kersten

Mark Kersten is an Assistant Professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, and a Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation in Berlin, Germany. Mark is the founder of the blog Justice in Conflict and author of the book, published by Oxford University Press, by the same name. He holds an MSc and PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a BA (Hons) from the University of Guelph. Mark has previously been a Research Associate at the Refugee Law Project in Uganda, and as researcher at Justice Africa and Lawyers for Justice in Libya in London. He has taught courses on genocide studies, the politics of international law, transitional justice, diplomacy, and conflict and peace studies at the London School of Economics, SOAS, and University of Toronto. Mark’s research has appeared in numerous academic fora as well as in media publications such as The Globe and Mail, Al Jazeera, BBC, Foreign Policy, the CBC, Toronto Star, and The Washington Post. He has a passion for gardening, reading, hockey (on ice), date nights, late nights, Lego, and creating time for loved ones.

A Year of Justice in Conflict!

Dear readers, Today marks JiC’s one-year anniversary! We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your readership and your support. It has been quite the ride so far. Over the last 365 days, JiC has published over … Continue reading

Posted in JiC News | 1 Comment

Syria and the Arab Spring: International Criminal Law after a UN Veto

JiC welcomes Peter Quayle, a solicitor specialising in public international law and litigation and the author of an excellent blog on international law. In this guest-post, Peter considers the international legal parameters in responding to the ongoing crisis in Syria. … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Syria, UN Security Council | 2 Comments

Legacies of Injustice in Liberia: Transitional Justice and Economic Crimes

JiC is thrilled to welcome back Kara Apland for this thoughtful and thought-provoking guest-post. Drawing on the Liberian experience, Kara delves into the oft-neglected subject of economic crimes in the context of transitional justice. Enjoy! Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian president, winner of … Continue reading

Posted in Economics of Conflict, Liberia, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Truth Commission | 1 Comment

Why Libya should not join the ICC…Yet

It comes as no surprise that human rights NGOs and those aligned with the International Criminal Court are advocating that Arab Spring states join the ICC. After all, justice and human rights have been central to the uprisings that sprang … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC | 6 Comments

Dithering over Damascus

JiC welcomes Andrew Jillions back with this thought-provoking post on the recent inaction of the UN Security Council in the face of ongoing violence and human rights violations in Syria.  There’s no doubt that the Assad regime has been buoyed by … Continue reading

Posted in China, Human Rights, Humanitarian Intervention, Peace Processes, Responsibiltiy to Protect (R2P), Russia, Syria, UN Security Council | 2 Comments

Drones for Human Rights: Are Drones the Answer?

I watched Mark Hanis last night on RT defend his and Andrew Strobo Sniderman’s op-ed article in the New York Times, which I responded to yesterday. Given the salience of this debate, I thought I’d share a few more thoughts, … Continue reading

Posted in Darfur, Drones, Holocaust, Human Rights, Justice, Southern Sudan, Sudan | 7 Comments

Drones for the ICC and Drones for Human Rights?

A recent thought-provoking and provocative op-ed in the New York Times has presented a serious challenge to those who view drones as nothing more than the evil extensions of secretive warfare. According to Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Mark Hanis, “[i]t’s … Continue reading

Posted in Drones, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice | 10 Comments

Where in the World is Abdullah al-Senussi?

Over the past few months, the world has honed in on the fate of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the former heir apparent of Libya and one-time galavanting ‘playboy’ who now finds himself in almost complete seclusion after being detained in November … Continue reading

Posted in Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3) | Leave a comment

The Politics of Trust: Diplomatic Assurances

Another fascinating guest post by Andrew Jillions on the politics of trust in the context of the highly controversial, yet widespread, practice of granting diplomatic assurances. Enjoy! Diplomatic assurances and the politics of trust The recent decision preventing the UK … Continue reading

Posted in Diplomatic Assurances, Human Rights, Jordan (not Michael), Lawfare, Libya, Pakistan, Terrorism, United Kingdom | 1 Comment

Libya set to Try Saif? Not so Fast

Say what? It was fitting that news and commentary on justice in Libya was thoroughly confusing today. The conflict in Libya and the post-Gaddafi era have been rife with contradictory storylines: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was captured. Wait, he’s touring Tripoli! … Continue reading

Posted in Libya, Libya and the ICC, Outreach, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), UN Security Council | 3 Comments