Transitional justice, transformative justice, democracy and development

Abstract

This chapter explores the relationships between transitional justice, transformative justice, democracy and development. Concentrating on the ways in which these concepts and their practice both overlap and diverge, the chapter considers the extent to which transitional justice and development could become mutually constitutive as well as challenges to this. The chapter argues that established, narrow approaches to transitional justice are less likely to contribute towards development than broader transformative justice approaches. Moreover, it is argued that narrow approaches to development can work against – or at least fail to contribute towards – some of the (supposed) ends of transitional justice. The chapter argues that transformative justice and broader understandings of development are more synergistic. However, it is nevertheless the case that transitional (and transformative) justice cannot fully absorb or be absorbed into development. Different (though not outright contradictory) foci ought to be maintained. The chapter concludes by positing that it is necessary for advocates of transitional justice and development (and transformative justice) to maintain a concern for democracy (what it is, in which processes it might be implemented and how it might be promoted) in order to realise the potential, and avoid the pitfalls, of considering transitional justice and development together.