A framework for assessing political will in transitional justice contexts

Abstract

ABSTRACTPolitical will is commonly recognised as being fundamental to policy-making processes surrounding accountability for serious human rights abuses in transitional justice contexts. In practice, however, it is an elusive and complex phenomenon which is difficult to operationally define and measure. This paper considers the unique characteristics and challenges of political will in transitional justice contexts, and outlines a framework by which political will for accountability can be systematically defined and measured. The framework proposes five key dimensions for measurement: initiation, assessment, mobilisation, allocation, and enforcement. Taken together, the five dimensions operationalise the measurement of political will, defined as the type and level of actions that demonstrate continual commitment by an actor/actors for a set of accountability objectives that aim to end impunity for human rights abuses. The framework is a contribution to the growing movement towards empirical methods of human rights assessment, and a step towards quantifying an elusive but critical concept.