Work

Global South States and Transitional Justice: Beyond Politicization

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This article traces the role of Global South states in designing and implementing transitional justice. It draws on the cases of Sierra Leone and Colombia to highlight the positive contributions that states can make to transitional justice by driving, facilitating and/or protecting transitional justice measures. The current transitional justice literature predominantly views the Global South state’s engagement with transitional justice through the lens of politicization and distortion. The Global South states’ contributions to postconflict justice and accountability are thus rendered invisible or masked as political manoeuvring. This article argues against this otherization of the Global South state by highlighting that it can and does make positive contributions to transitional justice. It underscores that states in the Global South are complex actors, harbouring diverse interests, including interests of justice.

Source: International Journal of Transitional Justice

DOI: 10.1093/ijtj/ijaf015

Author: Shivangi Seth

Institution: Australian National University

Language: English

Topic: War, Law, and Justice

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,534