Abstract
The field of transitional justice is increasingly characterized by the dominance of legalism to the detriment of both scholarship and practice. The first part of the paper examines what is meant by legalism and its consequences in the .field through a number of overlapping themes: 'legalism as seduction', the 'triumph' of human rights, and the tendency towards 'seeing like a state '. The second part considers a number of correctives to such leanings which are analysed as encouraging legal humility, exploring the human rights as development axis, and .finally developing a criminology of transitional justice. As law's place at the heart of transition from conflict is now secure, the time is right for a more honest appraisal of the limitations of legalism and a correspondingly greater willingness to countenance the role of other [non-legal] actors and forms of knowledge. 'Letting go of legalism' will both thicken the subject and deliver more effective change on the ground.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The Criminology of War |
Editors | Ross McGarry, Sandra Walklate |
Place of Publication | London |
Publisher | Taylor and Francis |
Pages | 515-544 |
Number of pages | 30 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781315086859 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780754623946 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 05 Jul 2017 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Social Sciences