JOURNAL ARTICLE

Former Informers: Informers Up Close: Stories from Communist Prague.

  • Published In: Journal of International Criminal Justice, 2025, v. 23, n. 2. P. 399 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Waters, Timothy William 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses a book that explores the role of informers in Communist Czechoslovakia, particularly those who reported to the State Security Police (StB). Authors Mark Drumbl and Barbora Holá aim to fill a gap in the study of informers by examining their motivations and emotions, proposing a model of "informing as intimacy" that highlights feelings such as fear, desire, resentment, and devotion. The book also addresses the post-Communist processing of informers and critiques the punitive approach taken by the Czech state, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of individual circumstances and motivations behind informing. Ultimately, the authors seek to challenge moral judgments about informers, emphasizing the complexity of human behavior in oppressive regimes. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of International Criminal Justice. 2025/05, Vol. 23, Issue 2, p399
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1478-1387
  • DOI:10.1093/jicj/mqaf030
  • Accession Number:189599619
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of International Criminal Justice is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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