LAWS320

Can evil take place with impunity? Answering this questions is the subject matter of transitional justice and of this class. Transitional justice explores why, or even IF, societies should confront past human rights abuses and atrocities. Transitional justice raises difficult legal, political, moral, psychological, and societal dimensions. This course will explore these issues and is accordingly divided into two parts. The first part maps the transitionall justice field--what it is, who are the victims and what kind of wrongs are involved, who are the perpetrators, and goals of transitional justice. In the second part we will examine the three main approaches to transitional justice: prosecution, truth and reconciliation, and non-legal models such as memorials, historical inquiry and restitution.