This project tackles the pressing problem of mercy’s potential for harm. Bringing together a cross-disciplinary panel of experts from and beyond academia, it explores the theoretical and practical implications of mercy in contexts ranging from criminal justice to civil war.
Principal Investigators:Professor Thom Brooks, Law,thom.brooks@durham.ac.ukProfessor Ioannis Ziogas, Classics and Ancient Historyioannis.ziogas@durham.ac.uk
Visiting IAS Fellows: TBC in September/October 2025
Term: Epiphany 2027
How is mercy enacted and what are its effects? Does it restore or undermine justice? Wheredoes it stand in relation to law? Mercy is often assumed to have positive connotations as avalue that inspires reconciliation, pardon, and the administration of lighter penalties. Due inpart to the influence of Christian theology, mercy tends to be regarded as the cornerstone ofa fair and just society. But as the remit of powerful individuals, it can also be responsible forcreating oppressive hierarchies. Mercy assumes the superiority of the bestower and thesubservience of the receiver, which undermines its aspiration to fairness and risks it becominga tool of absolute power. From Julius Caesar to Donald Trump, executive clemency hasmaintained a tense, sometimes conflicting relationship with the rule of law.
This project tackles the pressing problem of mercy’s potential for harm. Bringing together a cross-disciplinary panel of experts from and beyond academia, it explores the theoretical and practical implications of mercy in contexts ranging from criminal justice to civil war. It addresses topical questions about the sovereign prerogative to pardon, and intends its findings to have a positive impact beyond the university, on current sentencing practices in the UK.
Epiphany 2027
Will be add in due course.