Transitional Justice in Africa

Dr Julia Viebach

The aim of this course is to critically examine the empirical and theoretical foundations of Transitional Justice in Africa, as well as its practical effects. Transitional Justice has become a dominant script for societies dealing with the legacies of violent conflict and dictatorship. It prescribes a range of mechanisms, including truth commissions, reparations, vetting or (international) courts. Transitional Justice, as a field of study and collection of practices, is contested in Africa and beyond. The course will adopt an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on law, anthropology, sociology, and socio-legal studies to unravel some of the complexities, tensions and implications for African transition contexts. After exploring the conceptual foundations, we will critically analyse Transitional Justice modalities and processes, assessing their impact in African societies: what Transitional Justice mechanisms have been adopted across Africa? What are the contemporary debates surrounding their use in the case studies we examine? What can we learn from these African experiences? The course encourages students to engage with the topic through interactive teaching methods, such as role-plays and debates.