Transitional Justice

"Paul Gready has written a well-researched, thoughtful and unique volume. His assertion that those working on transitional justice and human rights must do more to address the structural poverty and violence which are the enduring legacies of the past is an important message for the 21st century. This book offers a wealth of insights for those working in a range of fields including, but going well beyond, transitional justice. "Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative; former President of Ireland

"This superb book provides an insightful, provocative and timely critique of the strengths and weaknesses of transitional justice mechanisms, through the prism of truth commissions. It provides important guidelines for the future. "Philip Alston, John Norton Pomeroy Professor of Law, New York University School of Law

"The Era of Transitional Justice is a brilliant inquiry into the sensitive domain of transitional justice. What really makes this book indispensable is its exceptionally clarifying conceptual framework for thought and action across the whole spectrum of human rights/justice concerns. "Richard Falk, Research Professor, Global Studies, UCSB

The Era of Transitional Justice: The Aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and Beyond explores a broad set of issues raised by political transition and transitional justice through the prism of the South African TRC. South Africa constitutes a powerful case study of the enduring structural legacies of a troubled past, and of both the potential and limitations of transitional justice and human rights as agents of transformation in the contemporary era. South Africa's story has wider relevance because it helped to launch constitutional human rights and transitional justice as global discourses; as such, its own legacy is to some extent writ large in post-authoritarian and post-conflict contexts across the world. Based on a decade of research, and in an analysis that is both comparative and interdisciplinary, Paul Gready maintains that transitional justice needs to do more to address structural violence - and in particular poverty, inequality and social and criminal violence - as these have emerged as stubborn legacies from an oppressive or war-torn past in many parts of the world. Organised around four central themes - new keyword conceptualisation (truth, justice, reconciliation); reimagining human rights; engaging with the past and present; remaking the public sphere - it is an argument that will be of considerable relevance to those interested in the law and politics of transitional societies.