After Authoritarianism: Transitional Justice and Democratic Stability

Transitional justice is the process of addressing the consequences of a former authoritarian regime after it has ended. It can impact democratic processes by influencing who enters politics, shaping politicians' behavior, and affecting policy decisions. Different mechanisms of transitional justice, such as transparency and purges, have contrasting effects on sustaining and shaping democratic qualities. After Authoritarianism explores this distinction using a global transitional justice dataset and demonstrates that these mechanisms are the crucial first chapter in a country's democratic story.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 22 September 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Transitional justice, the process of confronting a former authoritarian regime after its demise, holds significant implications for democratic processes. The mechanisms employed in transitional justice have the potential to shape the decisions of individuals who enter politics, influence the behavior of politicians during their tenure, and impact the delegation of policy decisions. It is important to note that these mechanisms vary in their approach and impact. Transparency mechanisms, for instance, aim to uncover authoritarian collaborators who worked in secret, while purges target open collaborators of the old regime.

After Authoritarianism delves into this distinction to explore the contrasting effects of these mechanisms on sustaining and shaping the qualities of democratic processes. By utilizing a comprehensive global transitional justice dataset, the book demonstrates that mechanisms of transitional justice serve as the critical first chapter in a country's democratic journey rather than being a mere epilogue of an outgoing authoritarian regime.

In conclusion, transitional justice plays a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of democratic development. The mechanisms employed in this process have the power to influence political decisions, shape the behavior of politicians, and impact the delegation of policy decisions. Understanding the distinctions between transparency mechanisms and purges is essential for determining their impact on sustaining and shaping democratic qualities. After Authoritarianism provides valuable insights into this critical aspect of transitional justice, highlighting its significance as the first chapter in a country's democratic story.

Weight: 523g
ISBN-13: 9781009073714