Editor's introduction: decoding crimes against humanity: towards a reconstructive approach

THIS ISSUE of Journal of East-West Thought is particularly devoted to the topic of crimes against humanity (CAH). Theoretically and practically, CAH is still an unsolved issue. S. R. Ratner points out, the debate on CAH is “the enduring debate” (Ratner, 2007, 583). D. Luban claims, the concept of CAH “is still in the childhood of its legal development” (Luban, 2004, 161). M. deGuzman declares, CAH has “enduring normative debates and doctrinal ambiguities” (deGuzman, 2010). M. Cupido argues that the debate concerning the theoretical characterization of the policy requirement as either an element of crime or an evidentiary relevant circumstance for CAH is deficient (Cupido, 2011). C. Macleod says: “Within political philosophy, especially that operating in the Anglo-American tradition, there has been very little consideration given to the nature of crimes against humanity. The same can be said about genocide, and indeed many other crimes referred to in international criminal law, though these offences shall not concern us here” (Macleod, 2010, 281).