The Power to Pardon and the History of Crime, Justice, and Violence in Western Europe
(2025) The Power to Pardon in Medieval and Early Modern Christian Europe — ISBN: [978-3-412-53386-1], p. 277-295, published
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- Abstract
- How did the medieval and early modern practices of pardoning contribute to conflict resolution, and what can the long-term history of pardon teach us about regulating conflicts in the twenty-first century? How might a historical perspective on the sovereign prerogative of mercy inform contemporary approaches to peace and reconciliation in shaping social relations among individuals, communities, and states? These are large questions, and attempting to provide a comprehensive answer is undoubtedly an overly ambitious undertaking. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that even today, the relationship between justice, mercy, and forgiveness remains the subject of philosophical and legal debates, just as it was in antiquity, the medieval period, and the early modern era. Whether as a provision for clemency in criminal matters, a political amnesty, or a tool of reconciliation in the aftermath of mass violence, the power to pardon remains a complex and contested instrument that challenges our understanding of justice and human rights.
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Citations
Rousseaux, X. (2025). The Power to Pardon and the History of Crime, Justice, and Violence in Western Europe. In Ludwig Ulrike, Verreycken Quentin (ed.), The Power to Pardon in Medieval and Early Modern Christian Europe (p. p. 277-295). Böhlau Verlag. https://doi.org/10.7788/9783412533861