A History of Political Trials (The Past in the Present) [Paperback]

John Laughland (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a formidable and well-documented counterblast to a developing modern orthodoxy, expressing a point of view that many readers will not even have suspected existed, let alone read - Anthony Daniels, Spectator. A useful and controversial contribution to the debate about victor's justice, and a valuable warning that international war crimes tribunals need to operate with precision and care - Jonathan Steele, Guardian. In this important, timely and cogently argued book John Laughland lays bare the truth that political trials, by which he means trials of heads of state or government ministers for acts of state...have never been properly constituted nor properly conducted judicial proceedings... Invaluable - Robert Stewart in the Spectator. A stupendous book - Daniel Hannan, Daily Telegraph. Laughland asks some pointed questions that will discomfit even those who disagree with him. Who has the right to adjudicate the acts of another state? What accountability is there for international tribunals? To what extent are they victors' justice? - Adam LeBor, Sunday Telegraph. This richly documented, very readable and strikingly indignant book shows how a well-meant global development of our times has gone off the rails ... How will the community of human rights activists deal with John Laughland's charges? I hope we shall be told - Geoffrey Best, Times Literary Supplement.

Product Details

• Paperback: 315 pages
• Publisher: Peter Lang (December 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906165009
• ISBN-13: 978-1906165000
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #708,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audacious and Superb, November 12, 2008

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OPVEA "Novalis" (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Political Trials (The Past in the Present) (Paperback)

Behold! A man who actually thinks his own thoughts. A contradictor who pulls no punches. This book deals with the kangaroo courts which again and again during the course of our history have made a travesty of justice. Mr. Laughland starts off with Charles I versus Cromwell, and finishes his presentation with the heart-rending words of a profoundly stoic Saddam Hussein on the eve of his execution. The most moving chapter of all is the one dealing with Philippe Pétain, who showed a saint-like nobility in defeat. We also read of the Tokyo trials with the defiant verdict of Radhabinod Pal, who found the alleged Japanese war criminals not guilty on all counts. Erich Honecker's memorable performance deserves to be mentioned as well: "The Federal Republic is not a state of law (kein Staat des Rechts) but instead a state of right-wingers (ein Staat der Rechten)." Mr. Laughland demonstrates with admirable precision that the trials of the defeated have nothing at all to do with justice. Rather, it is in shedding the blood of the defeated that the courts and regimes of usurpers and scoundrels, hypocrites and occupiers, gain political legitimacy. Finally, one must laud the truly remarkable impartiality of Mr. Laughland.