State Crime

State crime is clearly an area of interest to Marxist sociologists, who generally see the government as controlled or at least heavily influenced, by the bourgeoisie.
War crimes can be committed by individuals, groups and the state. They are punishable offences under international law. War crimes committed by the state include directing attacks against civilians, torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners, taking hostages, using civilians as shields, using child soldiers, and settlement of an occupied territory. Recent war trials include Saddam Hussein, who was found guilty by an Iraqi court and then hanged. It is problematic and controversial to decide what a war crime is and who is a war criminal. Some commentators have argued that the war in Iraq was an illegal war and that George W Bush and Tony Blair should be tried for war crimes…