You find here the English edition of Antonio Cassese’s book-length interview with Italian journalist Giorgio Acquaviva, originally published in Italian in 2011 (L’esperienza del male – Guerra, tortura, genocidio, terrorismo alla sbarra, Il Mulino), a few months before his passing. The book was later translated into Spanish (Pensando en derechos humanos) and German (Nachdenken über Menschenrechte). This self-published English edition, released by the Initiative, marks the first time the work is available to an English-speaking audience.
This volume is a compelling invitation to reflect on the principles of justice, human rights, and the enduring power of law to transform societies. It addresses critical questions, such as what genocide is, how to combat terrorism lawfully, and the role of human rights as a cornerstone of our lives.
The book also delves into his reflections on Palestine, including a peace plan he co-authored in the 1980s that was ultimately shelved by the Italian government. It highlights examples of courageous judges and activists and rejects the passive mindset that disasters are inevitable or that one should “mind their own business.” The book also examines the shift in global ethos over recent decades, driven by public demands for justice that were unthinkable before the 1990s—and unprecedented before the Nuremberg post World War II trial.
This victim-centered approach has fostered a burgeoning global public opinion. Antonio Cassese discusses the challenges and prospects of the International Criminal Court (the ICC), an institution he passionately supported yet lamented for its shortcomings. Throughout the book, he advocates for a robust international rule of law that goes beyond the ICC, emphasizing the fundamental need for every individual to assert their rights and achieve justice, even when confronting the modern Leviathan.
