Evans, Matthew (2018) A future without forgiveness: beyond reconciliation in transitional justice. International Politics, 55 (5). pp. 678-692. ISSN 1384-5748

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Law, Politics and Sociology > Law School of Law, Politics and Sociology > Politics School of Law, Politics and Sociology > Sociology
Depositing User:	Matthew Evans
Date Deposited:	30 Jun 2017 16:00
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2018 01:00
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/68916

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