Transitional justice in Tunisia and colonial legacy

Abstract

This chapter focuses on one such critique: a lack of adequate engagement of transitional justice with colonial violence, with a focus on the case of Tunisia. It advances debates on the limitations of transitional justice in addressing violations perpetrated in the service of colonialism and post-colonial structures through an analysis of transitional justice in Tunisia, and its success and limitations in dealing with colonial violence. The chapter starts with an overview of the literature on transitional justice and colonial legacy. It concludes with a discussion of lessons drawn from the Tunisian experience for transitional justice efforts in other post-colonial countries. In light of the recent attention given to colonialisation in settler colonial contexts, scholars have also emphasised the need to address the colonial legacy and its impact on post-colonial societies through transitional justice initiatives in non-settler colonies. Transitional justice has been an ever-expanding field of study over the past three decades.