THE NUREMBERG COURT

AN ANALYSIS OF THE THEORY OF THE BANALITY OF EVIL BASED ON HANNAH ARENDT'S WRITINGS

Abstract

The theme of this paper is centered on the Nuremberg International Tribunal, the trial of the participants of the Third Reich in World War II, analyzing how the tribunal changed international criminal law and what were the main changes on international system, such as the creation of new international courts. The Nuremberg Tribunal will be analyzed through the theory of the banality of evil, discussed in the book "Eichmann in Jerusalem" by Hannah Arendt. The term, "banality of evil", came up through an analysis about the trial of the Nazi Adolf Eichmann, and it was much debated in how would apply to those who were judged in Nuremberg. The hypothesis of this study is the idea that human beings conditioned to a strong government tend not to question the actions imposed on them. The research was conducted through a descriptive qualitative approach, researching in books and scientific articles, with the intention of having a greater historical depth on the subject and aiming to answer how the international courts can be examined in the light of the banality of evil theory. As a result it was possible to understand why the Nazi soldiers did not disagree with the crimes they committed. According to Hannah Arendt's theory, they were only following orders.