The Emotions in Transitional Justice

Abstract

Abstract This chapter details the place of the emotions in the development of transitional justice. It demonstrates that transitional justice has always been concerned, in part, with mediating and regulating the emotions of individual victims and perpetrators of human rights violations, groups engaged in violent conflicts, and societies marked by grievances, antagonisms, and division. In doing so, it details four phases in transitional justice’s engagement with the emotions. First is an initial emphasis on the idea that the resentment and anger felt by members of ousted authoritarian regimes present a risk to democratic transitions. Second is acknowledging victims’ negative emotions as legitimate but undesirable responses to human rights violations. Third is accepting that anger and resentment may play a positive role in motivating justice. And, lastly, is recognition of the significant role played by hope in sustaining the pursuit of justice in the face of setbacks and challenges.