The Debate on Capital Punishment in the Netherlands and Germany

Abstract

A comparison between the Dutch debate (in 1870) and the German debate (in 1949) on the abolition of capital punishment shows that the main arguments for and against capital punishment have changed little over the centuries. Despite the differences in social and political circumstances in Genmany and the Netherlands, the arguments that were advanced show a striking resemblance. In both countries the defenders of the death penalty recognized the weakness of the deterrence argument, and for this reason they opted for retribution as the principal argument for punishment.

Social science had little or no bearing on the forming of the opinion of the participants in the debate. Statistics were not regarded as a very reliable source of arguments for or against the death penalty. It was stressed that the issue had to be decided on principles ofjustice rather than statistical findings.

In both debates public opinion had little influence. It was recognized that opinions based on little or no knowledge on all the aspects of capital punishment form a dubious foundation for policy-making. At this moment, the death penalty is not a public debate, either in Holland or in Germany.

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