Community Reconciliation Research Articles

Digitizing Community Building and Reconciliation in Post-Conflict Communities: A Case of #Let’sTalkUganda in Northern Uganda

This research examines the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs; social media) as a tool that fosters community building and reconciliation in post-conflict regions, in particular Northern Uganda. Using Twitter data collected over 27 months (12 June 2016–9 September 2018), we found that information technology (IT) increased social actors’ (Justice and Reconciliation Project [JRP]-Uganda) advocacy for transitional justice in post-conflict communities. Interview findings evidenced the effectiveness of using social media (SM) to connect post-conflict communities to share and discuss reconciliatory ideas. This study connotes that well-thought-out SM use by social actors to share information used in resolving conflict results in socio-political stability and harmonious coexistence.

Ubwiyunge Mubikorwa (reconciliation in action): Development and Field Piloting of Action-Based Psychosocial Reconciliation Approach in post-Gacaca Rwanda

Reconciliation is a “hazy” construct that calls for further systematic understanding efforts. The purpose of the present study was to illuminate and understand authentic and idiographic processes of interpersonal reconciliation between survivors and perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. An original interpersonal reconciliation approach termed action-based psychosocial reconciliation approach (ABPRA) was developed and implemented in two remote villages of Rwanda. Lived experiences of reconciliation dyads (consisting of survivors and their direct perpetrators) who participated in ABPRA were collected employing a postsession, semistructured interview. Thematic content analysis of the data revealed five major themes representing the beneficial impacts of ABPRA. This paper introduces an overview of ABPRA and reports the results from the field pilot study. The reporting features a collection of participant reported narratives highlighting the beneficial effects of ABPRA on their healing and reconciliation process. The paper concludes with the implications of the study to enhance further efforts to support the interpersonal reconciliation process in Rwanda. Key implications for practice The study explored the beneficial impact of a novel interpersonal approach to post-Genocide community reconciliation in Rwanda. The study illuminated the lived experiences of Genocide survivors and perpetrators engaged in the process of interpersonal reconciliation. The study developed a piece of research evidence for a practical, economical and sustainable interpersonal reconciliation programme.

Between show-trials and Utopia: A study of the tu quoque defence

AbstractTu quoque, meaning in Latin ‘you too’, is a fallacy of relevance which targets the hypocrisy of the arguer rather than the truth of the advanced argument.In international criminal tribunals, defendants who advance the defence choose not to argue for their innocence, but rather seek to shift the spotlight on the crimes committed by the prosecuting authority or by the opposing side to the conflict, so as to delegitimize the entire prosecution as a form of ‘victor’s justice’. According to legal doxa, the argument has never been accepted in court. As a consequence, it has also been completely neglected within academia. Yet, the tu quoque defence is extremely powerful, as not only proven by its recurrent use over time, but also by its ability to turn trials into ‘show-trials’. This delegitimization of international prosecutions not only does impact the memory and reconciliation of war-torn communities, but also weakens the edifice of international criminal law.‘The Tu Quoque Argument as a Defence to International Crimes, Prosecution or Punishment,’ written by Sienho Yee in 2004 is the only existing in-depth treatment of the defence. Departing from a critique of Yee’s theorization, this article attempts to fill the scholarly lacuna that exists around tu quoque. It departs from a critique of Yee’s theorization and questions whether the defence can be legally legitimate. The article concludes that the defence is legally void, but international criminal tribunals and academia must not disregard its underlying argument because of its political pertinence.

Christian gacaca and official gacaca in post-genocide Rwanda

In October 1998, a think tank of the Rwandan state proposed the establishment of gacaca jurisdictions – popular courts charged with judging the people involved in the genocide against the Tutsi. Lesser known is the Christian gacaca, a conflict resolution mechanism, also inspired by the traditional gacaca, which was established during the same period by the Catholic Church of Rwanda as part of the synodal process leading to the celebration of the 2000 Year Jubilee. This essay describes, on the basis of archival documents and oral testimonies, the genesis of the Christian gacaca and examines how it related to the official gacaca. This pastoral initiative contributed to a relaxation of the tension between church and state that had marked the immediate aftermath of the genocide. The aim of the Christian gacaca was to bring about reconciliation in communities divided by the genocide, by bringing together victims and perpetrators. The task of the official gacaca was to judge and, if the guilt was established, to punish the authors of the genocide crimes. It was also, like in the Christian gacaca, to restore social harmony, but only through a judicial process.Keywords: Rwanda, genocide, Catholic Church, synod, 2000 Year Jubilee, Christian gacaca, official gacaca, Nyakibanda Major Seminary, Urugwiro Village

Post-conflict infrastructure rehabilitation requirements

Post-disaster relief and reconstruction are always complex and challenging, requiring an integrated infrastructure and community rehabilitation process. These challenges are even more pronounced in post-conflict situations, where combatants must be reintegrated into normal community life, reconciliation progressed and confidence in institutions restored. When the conflict is prolonged, the transition to normalcy is yet more challenging to a generation or more of the working-age population who have not experienced normal working life prior to the conflict. As integrated systems, the infrastructure needs not only to be rehabilitated within the overall rehabilitation of society but also to provide a vehicle to facilitate the reintegration of the population and the socio-economic transition of the productive capacity of society. Infrastructure rehabilitation is as much about how it is used and owned by the community as the restoration of functionality. This paper explores the nature of post-conflict rehabilitation today, discusses how the existing transition paradigms apply and identifies how the paradigms may better deliver post-conflict infrastructure rehabilitation.

A Place for Individuals: Positive Growth in Rwanda

ABSTRACTThis article introduces the Rwandan Stories of Change research project, and uses data collected jointly with the Aegis Trust to argue for the value of in-depth studies on individual Rwandans’ positive growth. It seeks to explore the place of individual growth in discussions of post-genocide Rwanda by examining the communitarian culture and policies of present day Rwanda. The article uses discourse analysis of a sample of testimonies to analyse indicators of individual growth alongside an assessment of collective resources (political, cultural and therapeutic) to ensure the broader cultural context of growth is attended to. The article investigates what connections might be found between community reconciliation processes and individual growth, and seeks to question how the two are related. Finally, the article argues that though individual stories are more difficult to locate and articulate, efforts must be made to facilitate their dissemination in order to provide a comprehensive, forward-looking discourse of post-genocide adaptation.

A Black Theological Response to Race-Based Medicine: Reconciliation in Minority Communities.

The harm race-based medicine inflicts on minority bodies through race-based experimentation and the false solutions a race-based drug ensues within minority communities provokes concern. Such areas analyze the minority patient in a physical proxy. Though the mind and body are important entities, we cannot forget about the spirit. Healing is not just a physical practice; it includes spiritual practice. Efficient medicine includes the holistic elements of the mind, body, and spirit. Therefore, the spiritual discipline of black theology can be used as a tool to mend the harms of race-based medicine. It can be an avenue of research to further particular concerns for justice in medical care . Such theology contributes to the discussion of race-based medicine indicating the need for the voice, participation, and interdependence of minorities. Black theology can be used as a tool of healing and empowerment for health equity and awareness by exploring black theology's response to race-based medicine, analyzing race in biblical literature, using biblical literature as a tool for minority patient empowerment, building on past and current black church health advocacy with personal leadership in health advocacy.

Decentralisation as a post-conflict state-building strategy in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone and Rwanda

This paper explores decentralisation’s contribution to post-conflict state building in four Commonwealth countries: UK (Northern Ireland), Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone and Rwanda. Drawing on insights from senior local government officials, it explores post-conflict institutional arrangements and finds that decentralisation policy has made a significant, if varied, contribution to community cohesion, reconciliation and state legitimacy in each country. In Northern Ireland and to a lesser extent Sri Lanka, quasi-federal structures have enabled peace negotiations through greater autonomy and state legitimacy in the eyes of former separatists. This has however limited further devolution to sub-provincial local councils. In Sierra Leone and Rwanda, decentralisation has had a more developmental rationale. Greater equity in basic local service provision and more inclusive local governance has supported community cohesion and reconciliation in all four countries, though there are capacity gaps and coordination issues with central government agencies. There is evidence decentralisation has contributed to peace in all four countries although in Rwanda the restriction on pluralism has limited local government flexibility to address community needs. The case studies offer key lessons and signpost continuing challenges, which may help other governments to consider what features of decentralisation may work best for their post-conflict political settlement and the socio-cultural dynamics of the communities they serve.

Echo Football Club

The Echo football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote Community Harmony, Multiculturalism and Reconciliation. Echo participated in both the surveys and the interviews. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Foxtrot Football Club

The Foxtrot football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote community harmony, multiculturalism and reconciliation. Foxtrot participated in both the surveys and the interviews. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Abacus Football Club

The Abacus football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote Community Harmony, Multiculturalism and Reconciliation. Abacus participated in both the surveys and the interviews. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Hornet Football Club

The Hornet football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote Community Harmony, Multiculturalism and Reconciliation. Hornet participated in the surveys only. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Delta Football Club

The Delta football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote community harmony, multiculturalism and reconciliation. Delta participated in both the surveys and the interviews. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Igloo Football Club

The Igloo football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote Community Harmony, Multiculturalism and Reconciliation. Igloo participated in the surveys only. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Bravo Football Club

The Bravo football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League’s Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote community harmony, multiculturalism and reconciliation. Bravo participated in both the surveys and the interviews. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University’s ethics guidelines.

Gecko Football Club

The Gecko football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote community harmony, multiculturalism and reconciliation. Foxtrot participated in the surveys only. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Charlie Football Club

The Charlie football club is an AFL club that participated in this Australian Research Council project Assessing the Australian Football League's Racial and Religious Vilification Laws to promote community harmony, multiculturalism and reconciliation. Charlie participated in both the surveys and the interviews. This club and its players and staff have all been deidentified as required by Curtin University's ethics guidelines.

Ngwana phosa dira ga a bolawe: The value of restorative justice to the reintegration of offenders

Does restorative justice have anything to offer the field of offender reintegration? Restorative justice is defined, and distinctions are drawn, between a restorative justice worldview and processes and programmes that are restorative. Restorative justice processes focus on relationships and create opportunities for individual, family and community restoration and reconciliation. In doing so they open up new social spaces for offenders and nurture social inclusion. They also help offenders accept responsibility and help all parties manage the process of release from prison.

Reconstructing the social fabric amid ongoing violence: attitudes toward reconciliation and structural transformation in Colombia

Given the increase of reconciliation processes initiated amid ongoing violence, this study focuses on community reconciliation and its relation to structural transformation, or social reconstruction through reforming unjust institutions and practices that facilitate protracted violent conflict. Drawing lessons from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, mixed-methods analyses include 8 in-depth interviews and 184 surveys. Four key dimensions of reconciliation – truth, justice, mercy and peace – are examined. In the interviews, participants prioritise reconstructing the truth and bringing perpetrators to justice as essential aspects of reconciliation. Notions of mercy and forgiveness are less apparent. For the participants, sustainable peace is dependent on structural transformation to improve livelihoods. These data, however, do not indicate how this understanding of reconciliation may relate to individual participation in reconciliation processes. Complementing the qualitative data, quantitative analyses identify some broad patterns that relate to participation in reconciliation events. Compared to those who did not participate, individuals who engaged in reconciliation initiatives report higher levels of personal experience with violence, live alongside demobilised paramilitaries, are more engaged in civic life and express greater preference for structural transformation. The paper concludes with policy implications that integrate reconciliation and structural transformation to deepen efforts to rebuild the social fabric amid violence.

Editorial: Special Issue on Community Psychoanalysis and Reconciliation in Australia

Editorial: Special Issue on Community Psychoanalysis and Reconciliation in Australia