Abstract
ABSTRACTThis paper revisits the symposium published in the very first issue of Restorative Justice: An International Journal: Nils Christie's ‘Words on words' and the ten reactions it provoked. The core question that has surfaced from that ‘provocation’ and the reactions to it, and the one that guides our reflection—and the field of restorative justice (RJ) in general—is whether RJ can be seen today to constitute a viable alternative ‘discursive practice’ to the current criminal justice system (CJS). The aim of this paper is twofold: first, to re-emphasise the abolitionist roots of RJ; and second, to explore the potential and limits of RJ as an alternative discourse to the CJS. Through a discourse analysis we stress the importance of retaining the alternative spirit of RJ, defined through three core principles: lifeworld, participation and reparation, while remaining involved with the CJS. We hope through this theoretical reflection to stimulate further discussions among scholars in the RJ field.
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