Overview

The aftermath of modern conflicts, deeply rooted in political, economic and social structures, leaves pervasive and often recurring legacies of violence. Addressing past injustice is therefore fundamental not only for societal well-being and peace, but also for future conflict prevention. In recent years, truth and reconciliation commissions have become important but contentious mechanisms for conflict resolution and reconciliation. This book fills a significant gap, examining the importance of context within transitional justice and peace-building. It lays out long-term and often unexpected indirect effects of formal and informal justice processes. Offering a novel conceptual understanding of 'procedural reconciliation' on the societal level, it features an in-depth study of commissions in Peru and Sierra Leone, providing a critical analysis of the contribution and challenges facing transitional justice in post-conflict societies. It will be of interest to scholars and students of comparative politics, international relations, human rights and conflict studies.

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9781107185692

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Reviews

Advance praise: 'This book makes a critical intervention in post-conflict literature by defining the very real challenges that face truth commissions even after they have cleared standard bureaucratic hurdles. Just as 'procedural democracy' is seen by some as a necessary but insufficient ingredient for actual democracy, Friedman's work shows that 'procedural reconciliation' risks the same fate, and she offers an insightful contribution to the field of post-conflict scholarship.' Mneesha Gellman, Emerson College, Boston Advance praise: 'Dr Friedman's superb study of postwar transitional justice and reconciliation provides a nuanced analysis of how specific community social contexts affect transitional justice processes. This important study traces how individuals' experiences and informal processes at community and national levels can operate at odds with formal transitional justice processes. It is analytically sophisticated, but also encyclopaedic in its engagement with cases. This work will challenge conventional wisdom and will provoke controversy.' William S. Reno, Northwestern University, Illinois

Author Information

Rebekka Friedman is a lecturer of International Relations in the Department of War Studies at King's College London. Her teaching and research focus on the intersection of transitional justice, peace-building, reconciliation, memory and gender. She is a former editor of Millennium: Journal of International Studies.

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