ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a synthesis of some of the main views on the prevention of international crimes. Scholars have noted that international crimes are often committed in societies in which the population suffers from difficult life conditions. These difficult life conditions can be the result of widespread violence or war, economic depression, or rapid changes in social structure, technology, or social institutions within a country. The fact that our history is so full of episodes of collective violence and international crimes it is unlikely that will ever be able to entirely stop these crimes from occurring. In order to develop truly effective measures it is important however, that a multi and interdisciplinary approach is taken in which the causes of international crimes are taken into account. Another means to prevent international crimes is to prevent atrocity producing situations. Zimbardo and his team showed how ordinary people can behave cruelly and sadistically in atrocity producing situations, such as a prison environment.
