The past decennia have shown an increase in ad hoc international law institutions. Although some of them are now reaching the end of their lifespan, the afterlife of tribunals remains relatively unknown. How can the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), located in The Hague, as a site of cultural heritage representing layered narratives, be transformed into a place of multidirectional memory? This entry starts with identifying six narratives that the ICTY has accumulated during its lifespan and explores which areas of peace and justice were not addressed by the ICTY—but could be in a place of cultural heritage. We then conceptualize the potential of this afterlife of the tribunal as both a legal institution and an archive. The entry concludes by exploring how artistic representations of the ICTY can help understand its potential as a heritage site and develop it into a multidirectional place of memory that will keep growing and expanding our imaginations during its afterlife. The ICTY-as-heritage might gain a richness in relations and stories that could result in a deeper understanding of its history and future. Starting with the (material) evidence and (archival) silences and moving to reflections on the more symbolic meaning of the tribunal as a promise for peace and justice, artistic interventions complexify the ICTY’s narratives. These interventions also have the power to change the story of the tribunal. The ICTY has had a very specific trajectory. Nevertheless, it could inspire more creative thinking on the cultural afterlife of tribunals everywhere.

Driessen, Siri, and Niké Wentholt. “Exploring the ICTY as Cultural Heritage: From Frozen Archive to Multidirectional Memory Practice.” In The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Cultural Heritage and Conflict, pp. 1-11. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025.

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