This book examines the position of ‘contextual elements’ as a constitutive elementof the legal definition of the crime of genocide, and determines the extent to whichan individual génocidaire is required to act within a particular genocidal context.

Unlike other books in the field of the study of the crime of genocide, this book capturesthe nuance and the complex issues of the debate by providing a book-length comprehensiveexamination of the position of contextual elements in light of the evolution ofgenocide as a concept and the literal legal definition of the crime of genocide, whichexpressly characterized the crime with only the existence of an individualistic intentto destroy a group.

With scholars of international criminal law, students, researchers, practitioners inthe field, and international criminal tribunals in mind, the author tackles many ofthe issues raised on the position of contextual elements in both academic literatureand judicial decisions.

Nasour Koursami is the Director of Applied Research and a Lecturer at the NationalSchool of Administration in Chad. He studied law at Cardiff and Bristol Universitiesand holds a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Edinburgh.