Introductory description

Transitional justice can be defined as the mechanisms and processes designed to address mass human rights violations of the past. The connections between transitional justice and international development are increasingly acknowledged as relevant for improving both practice and theory in the different domains of activity and intervention. We will explore questions such as can economic, social and cultural rights be included in transitional justice interventions? How are human rights connected to development? Can development be a form of justice for individuals and communities who have had their human rights violated? Can the inclusion of development issues undermine the pursuit of justice for human rights violations? During the module we will read and discuss literature from different fields and disciplines including international development, transitional justice, law, socio-legal studies, political science and human rights.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

10 weekly seminars:

1. The ‘Age’ of Transitional Justice: Key Debates and Mechanisms.
2. From ‘Thin’ to ‘Thick’ Transitional Justice: Bringing Development in.
3. Bridging the Divides: Epistemic Communities and Collaborations.
4. Case Study: Socio-Economic Rights (invited speaker).
5. Case Study: Gender Equality (invited speaker).
6. Reading Week
7. Case Study: Internal Displacement (invited speaker).
8. Case Study: Reparation (invited speaker).
9. Combining the ‘Fields’: Policies and Experts.
10. Combining the ‘Fields’: Local, National and Global Level
    Action.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1. Awareness and ability to understand, evaluate and assess the key debates and mechanisms of transitional justice.
• 2. Ability to reflect on the ways in which ‘justice’ is framed by both transitional justice and international development.
• 3. Ability to critically assess the policy, practice and theoretical implications of the intersections between transitional justice and international development.
• 4. Confidence in written and oral presentation of ideas and construction of arguments.
• 5. Application of learning through contributions to online platforms such as justiceinfo.net and other such activities.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

The assessment will involve a research essay, which will require students to use a variety of primary and secondary sources.

Interdisciplinary

The fields of development and transitional justice are interdisciplinary in their nature and evolution and this will be the focus of many of the discussions during the module. Each session will explicitly draw on insights from different disciplines (law, anthropology, political science, socio-legal studies, social psychology) and reflect on how this has shaped the interdisciplinary nature of the relevant fields. Key readings will also tackle the interdisciplinarity of the fields and the impact this has for theory, policy and practice.

International

The module not only brings together an international student body but also explores the global issues of justice and development.

Subject specific skills

1. Ability to critically evaluate the key debates and mechanisms of transitional justice.
2. Ability to reflect on the ways in which ‘justice’ is framed by both transitional justice and international development.
3. Ability to critically assess the policy, practice and theoretical implications of the intersections between transitional justice and international development.

Transferable skills

1. Confident presentation of ideas in oral and written form.
2. Construction of coherent and nuanced arguments.
3. Applying learning to case studies.
4. Connecting theoretical debate to empirical evidence.
5. Independent research skills.