Contemporary history on trial

This incisive examination tackles the complex role of historians who step out of the archive and into the courtroom, serving as expert witnesses for twentieth-century atrocities from the Holocaust to the Srebrenica massacre. Harriet Jones dissects the heated, politicized debates that have erupted across Europe since the Cold War's end, where government inquiries and truth commissions are increasingly deployed to manage public pressure over painful historical episodes. The book rigorously questions whether the search for legal or state-sanctioned 'truth' aligns with the nuanced, interpretive work of historical scholarship.

Jones compellingly argues that state-sponsored programs of education and research, designed to foster a common moral understanding, often create a new battleground for historical memory. This is essential reading for anyone concerned with how societies confront dark chapters in their past and the inherent tension between judicial process and academic history. The work stands out for its clear-eyed analysis of how public history is weaponized, making it particularly resonant for students of modern European history and the ethics of historical practice.