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A future without forgiveness: beyond reconciliation in transitional justice

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 06:58 authored by Matthew EvansMatthew Evans
This article questions the promotion of reconciliation in transitional justice contexts. The article puts forward a critique of reconciliation in practice and questions mainstream definitions of reconciliation. The principle that these forms of reconciliation are desirable is also questioned. It is argued that examples of genuine reconciliation are difficult to find, that the promotion of reconciliation is frequently emphasised at the expense of substantive societal change, that emphasis on reconciliation (narrowly defined) risks taking agency away from those affected by conflict and that emphasis on reconciliation may obscure injustice and may promote acceptance of the status quo. The article suggests that reconciliation is not a necessary condition of, and should be de-emphasised in, transitional justice and, if it is promoted at all, that a different, less prescriptive notion of reconciliation is necessary.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

International Politics

ISSN

1384-5748

Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan

Issue

5

Volume

55

Page range

678-692

Department affiliated with

  • Law Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-06-30

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-10-10

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-06-30

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