Work

Utopia and the doubters: truth, transition and the law

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: Truth commissions have an intuitive appeal in squaring the circle of peace and accountability post-conflict, but some claims for their benefits risk utopianism. Law provides both opportunities and pitfalls for post-conflict justice initiatives, including the operation of truth commissions. Rather than adopting a heavily legalised approach, derived from Public Inquiries, an ‘holistic legal model’, employing social science fact-finding methodologies to explore pattern of violations, and drawing appropriately on legal standards, may provide the best option for a possible Northern Ireland truth commission.

Source: Legal Studies

DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-121x.2008.00093.x

Authors: Colm Campbell, Catherine Turner

Institution: University of Ulster

Language: English

Topic: War, Law, and Justice

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

Funder: Leverhulme Trust