Intergenerational Transmission of Punitive Attitudes Toward Atrocity Crimes in Post-War Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Role of Rank, Apology, and Trial Location

Abstract How do societies and families in post-atrocity settings shape the next generation’s sense of justice for mass crimes? In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the legacies of war remain deeply embedded in social and political life, this study examines the intergenerational transmission of punitive attitudes. Using survey data from 640 parent-child pairs, we analyze how sentencing preferences shift across generations in response to variations in perpetrator rank, apology, and trial location. Our findings reveal a modest but significant correlation between parental and child attitudes, with an unexpected trend: children of parents who directly suffered war-related harm express less punitive attitudes than those whose parents did not. These results challenge assumptions about victimization and retribution, offering new insights into how justice perceptions evolve in post-conflict societies. By shedding light on the role of familial memory in shaping attitudes toward punishment for atrocity crimes, this study deepens our understanding of justice perceptions in post-conflict societies, offering insights relevant to transitional justice debates and efforts to prevent cycles of violence.