After Violence: Transitional Justice, Peace, and Democracy examines the effects of transitional justice on the development of peace and democracy. Anticipated contributions of transitional justice mechanisms are commonly stated in universal terms, with little regard for historically specific contexts. Yet a truth commission, for example, will not have the same function in a society torn by long-term civil war or genocide as in a society emerging from authoritarian repression. Addressing trials, reparations, truth commissions, and amnesties, the book systematically addresses the experiences of four very different contemporary transitional justice cases: post-authoritarian Uruguay and Peru and post-conflict Rwanda and Angola. Its analysis demonstrates that context is a crucial determinant of the impact of transitional justice processes, and identifies specific contextual obstacles and limitations to these processes. The book will be of much interest to scholars in the fields of transitional justice and peacebuilding, as well as students generally concerned with human rights and democratisation.

This book examines the effects of transitional justice on the conditions for peace and democracy. Ordinarily, the anticipated contribution of transitional justice mechanisms is stated in universal terms, with little regard for the historically specific context. Yet a truth commission, for example, will not have the same function in a society torn by long-term civil war or genocide as in a society where conflict has taken the form of authoritarian repression. Addressing trials, reparations and amnesties, as well as truth commissions, the book systematically addresses the experiences of four very different contemporary transitional justice cases: post-authoritarian Uruguay and Peru and post-conflict Rwanda and Angola. Its analysis, which not only demonstrates that context is a crucial determinant of the impact of transitional justice processes, but also identifies specific contextual obstacles and limitations to these processes, will be of considerable interest to scholars in the fields of transitional justice and peace-building, as well as students generally concerned with human rights and democratisation.