The Impact of the ICTY Trials on Public Opinion in the Former Yugoslavia

If the impact of the ICTY in the countries of the former Yugoslaviawere to be measured exclusively by the poor public perceptionof the Tribunal that prevails, perhaps the best course of actionwould be to shut its doors without waiting for the end of itsmandate. The author tries, however, to show the more complexand multifaceted nature of the perception of the Tribunal atdifferent levels, in the different countries of the former Yugoslavia,as well as at different moments in time. His conclusion is thatthe ICTY should have done more to improve its image in the region,thereby making it more difficult for the local elites to distortand manipulate its message.