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From Chapter 6 of Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher:

Lord Snow tells us that when educated people deplore the ‘illiteracy of scientists’ he sometimes ask, ‘How many of them could describe the Second Law of Thermodynamics?’ The response, he reports, is usually cold and negative. ‘Yet,’ he says, ‘I was asking something which is about the scientific equivalent of: have you read a work of Shakespeare’s?’ Such a statement challenges the entire basis of our civilisation. What matters is the tool-box of ideas with which, by which, through which, we experience and interpret the world. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is nothing more than a working hypothesis suitable for various types of scientific research. On the other hand – a work by Shakespeare: teeming with the most vital ideas about the inner development of man, showing the whole grandeur and misery of a human existence. How could these two things be equivalent? What do I miss, as a human being, if I have never heard of the Second Law of Thermodynamics? The answer is: nothing. And what do I miss by not knowing Shakespeare? Unless I get my understanding from another source, I simply miss my life. Shall we tell our children that one thing is as good as another – here a bit of knowledge of physics, and there a bit of knowledge of literature?

Makes me think I need to start reading more fiction…

Popularity: 6% [?]

…and it might well happen to most of us dainty people that we were in the thick of the battle of Armageddon without being aware of anything more than the annoyance of little explosive smoke and struggle on the ground immediately abous us.

- George Eliot, Daniel Deronda

(quoted in Philip Gourevitch’s We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Out Families)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Posting is slowing down as exams and assignment dates approach, however I am in the middle of researching a ‘research proposal’ assignment for Quantitative Social Research and have come across a few interesting books that look to be interesting and worthwhile reads – from my meagre keyword-directed reading.

Atrocity, Punishment, and International Law by Mark A. Drumbl (2007)

This book looks at punishment regimes in international criminal tribunals. Reviewing current sentencing practices and comparing that to goals of international tribunals. He argues for a new way of thinking about sentencing at the international level, that these crimes aren’t the result of individual deviancy, necessarily, but rather conformist behaviour.

I’ve only flipped through, but his discussion about the purpose of punishment on an international and local level was quite interesting, as was his evaluation of current practice.

Transitional Justice in the Twenty-First Century Edited by Naomi Roht-Arriaza and Javier Mariezcurrena (2006)

This is a collection of edited chapters in two parts. The first part is titled “Truth, justice and multiple institutions” and each article looks at a separate institutional response to conflict – covering Sierra Leone, Pru, Colombia and Timor Leste. Contributions come from people who actually worked in the field at institutions such as the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and academics working in the field. Part two is titled “Levels of justice: Local, national and international” and compares the more local to the international responses. For example, gacaca in Rwanda versus the ICTR, the work done in Argentina and an examination of Iraq.

I had a look at the discussion of Timor Leste and the outreach work done by the Court in Sierra Leone, and both chapters were very informative and easy to read.

Closing the Books: Transitional Justice in Historical Perspective by Jon Elster (2004)

Here’s a good theoretical look at transitional justice. The book is in two parts, first a history lesson from 5th century BC Athens to the present. Briefly going over some historical experiences of transition. The second part analyses transition, purporting to explain why certain situations give rise to certain institutional responses.

An interesting look at explaining what shapes the responses countries adopt following conflict – why South Africa picked a TRC, while Rwanda asked for an international tribunal. Why some conflicts give rise to amnesties while others result in hundreds of thousands in jail.

All three books look like interesting reads, maybe I’ll be borrowing them out again when my exams are over.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Here’s a great article by Michela Wrong on the wrong way to write a book about (set in) Africa. I’m not sure about her gender stereotypes at the end, but there’s some words of wisdom for anyone who is thinking about turning their next African holiday into a book. (Via Uganda Scarlett Lion)

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I would love to get this new book edited by Jeremy Levitt. It’s called Africa: Mapping New Boundaries in International Law and tackles issues of international law from an African perspective. I liked this quotes from reviews: “The book signals a major shift from the study of Africa as a basket case to a normative market place.” – Akua Kuenyehia, Vice President, International Criminal Court.

Popularity: 4% [?]