The politics of trauma and reconciliation

This paper explores transitional justice as a way to bring an end to violence and consolidate peace. It approaches transitional justice as an expression of the 'never again' consensus to prevent or prosecute crimes against humanity. It explores transitional justice as an expression of glob...

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Main Author: Humphrey Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Victimology Society of Serbia and Prometej-Beograd 2010-01-01
Series:Temida
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-6637/2010/1450-66371001009H.pdf
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author Humphrey Michael
author_facet Humphrey Michael
author_sort Humphrey Michael
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description This paper explores transitional justice as a way to bring an end to violence and consolidate peace. It approaches transitional justice as an expression of the 'never again' consensus to prevent or prosecute crimes against humanity. It explores transitional justice as an expression of globalizing law and the implications this has for the recovery of the 'rule of law' and 'political legitimacy' in the post conflict State. It takes Robert Meister (2002)'s formulation of the politics of victimhood, revenge and resentment in the relationship between the beneficiaries and the victims of injustice, as remaining at the centre of transitional justice politics in trying to decide on the balance between reconciliation and justice projects. It explores how human rights discourse has been used to de-politicise the 'victim' by adopting an individually embodied concept of violence as opposed to a structural one. It argues that transitional justice as an expression of globalizing law has been primarily directed at maintaining peace to achieve closure on past 'evil' but that the beneficiary-victim issue has re-emerged in the social justice movements and renewed desire for prosecutions.
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spelling doaj.art-e8174ba65fb0462f973418dca003b8d52022-12-21T19:51:14ZengVictimology Society of Serbia and Prometej-BeogradTemida1450-66372010-01-0113192210.2298/TEM1001009HThe politics of trauma and reconciliationHumphrey MichaelThis paper explores transitional justice as a way to bring an end to violence and consolidate peace. It approaches transitional justice as an expression of the 'never again' consensus to prevent or prosecute crimes against humanity. It explores transitional justice as an expression of globalizing law and the implications this has for the recovery of the 'rule of law' and 'political legitimacy' in the post conflict State. It takes Robert Meister (2002)'s formulation of the politics of victimhood, revenge and resentment in the relationship between the beneficiaries and the victims of injustice, as remaining at the centre of transitional justice politics in trying to decide on the balance between reconciliation and justice projects. It explores how human rights discourse has been used to de-politicise the 'victim' by adopting an individually embodied concept of violence as opposed to a structural one. It argues that transitional justice as an expression of globalizing law has been primarily directed at maintaining peace to achieve closure on past 'evil' but that the beneficiary-victim issue has re-emerged in the social justice movements and renewed desire for prosecutions.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-6637/2010/1450-66371001009H.pdftransitional justicehuman rightsvictimhoodtrauma
spellingShingle Humphrey Michael
The politics of trauma and reconciliation
Temida
transitional justice
human rights
victimhood
trauma
title The politics of trauma and reconciliation
title_full The politics of trauma and reconciliation
title_fullStr The politics of trauma and reconciliation
title_full_unstemmed The politics of trauma and reconciliation
title_short The politics of trauma and reconciliation
title_sort politics of trauma and reconciliation
topic transitional justice
human rights
victimhood
trauma
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-6637/2010/1450-66371001009H.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT humphreymichael thepoliticsoftraumaandreconciliation
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