Transitional Justice and the Public Sphere: Engagement, Legitimacy and Contestation

Description

Transparency is a fundamental principle of justice. A cornerstone of the rule of law, it allows for public engagement and for democratic control of the decisions and actions of both the judiciary and the justice authorities. This book looks at the question of transparency within the framework of transitional justice. Bringing together scholars from across the disciplinary spectrum, the collection analyses the issue from socio-legal, cultural studies and practitioner perspectives. Taking a three-part approach, it firstly discusses basic principles guiding justice globally before exploring courts and how they make justice visible. Finally, the collection reviews the interface between law, transitional justice institutions and the public sphere.

Chrisje Brants is Professor of Criminal Law at Northumbria University, United Kingdom; and Professor Emeritus of Criminal Law and Procedure at Utrecht University, Netherlands. Susanne Karstedt is Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University, Australia.

... the multitude of perspectives and experiences that scholars and practitioners brought to this book make is outstanding. Legal scholars of criminal law and procedure, criminologists, political scientists, anthropologists, victimologists, communications specialists - they all add to this book their unique perspectives, emphasising once again that transitional justice is an interdisciplinary field. -- Iva Vukusic, Department of History and Art History, Utrecht University * International Criminal Law Review * This collection brings together an impressive range of scholars from different geographical contexts and career stages to explore the role of the public sphere in understanding 'justice' within a transitional justice framework, with a particular focus on legal justice. It will be of use to legal scholars, and to those interested in the role of the public sphere who would like a more nuanced understanding of the role of criminal courts within transitional justice frameworks. -- Alison Atkinson-Phillips, Newcastle University * Historical Dialogues, Justice, And Memory Network *