Politics of Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding: The Case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This book examines why some states choose to engage with transitional justice, using the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a lens. Despite the country's long and deadly conflict, demands for transitional justice measures have been made since 1999. The book explores the paradoxical fact that measures to strengthen justice and promote impunity have been pursued simultaneously by investigating the drivers of transitional justice policies. It argues that domestic elites' preferences shaped these processes, influenced by social and political goals, conflict drivers, and their understanding of the conflict. The book complements approaches focused on structural and international factors with an analysis of elite preferences, providing a more critical and complex understanding of why states pursue transitional justice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced one of the longest and deadliest conflicts in Africa since the end of the Cold War. The country has been plagued by violence, repeated breakdowns of peace agreements, and widespread human rights abuses. Human rights groups have expressed frustration over the slow progress in ending impunity and holding accountable those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all parties to the conflict. Despite these concerns, calls for transitional justice measures in the DRC began as early as 1999.

What sets the DRC case apart is the apparent paradox that measures to strengthen justice and promote impunity have been pursued simultaneously. This book aims to shed light on this paradox by investigating the drivers of transitional justice policies in the country.

Scholarship on transitional justice suggests that domestic actors are unlikely to effectively commit to transitional justice without external pressure, particularly in contexts of negotiated or pacted transitions. In the case of the DRC, this book argues that the preferences of domestic elites, including both government and rebel representatives, played a central role in shaping transitional justice processes. These preferences were influenced by the broader social and political goals pursued by the actors in the context of the armed conflict and subsequent peace process, as well as their understanding of the drivers of the conflict.

To complement approaches focused on structural and institutional factors, this book also examines the role of social and cultural factors in shaping transitional justice outcomes. It explores how gender, ethnicity, and social class dynamics interact with transitional justice processes to produce different outcomes for different groups. It also examines the impact of historical legacies, such as colonialism and slavery, on transitional justice processes and outcomes.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of the drivers of transitional justice policies in the DRC. It sheds light on the complex interplay between domestic, regional, and international factors that shape transitional justice processes and outcomes. It offers valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities of transitional justice in conflict-ridden contexts.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138802469