Review Essay: The Paradoxes of Transitional Justice

In: Peace review: the international quarterly of world peace, Band 12, Heft 1, S. 155-161

Abstract

A review essay on books by (1) Martha Minow, Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: Facing History after Genocide and Mass Violence (Boston: Beacon, 1998); & (2) Aryeh Neier, War Crimes: Brutality, Genocide, Terror, and the Struggle for Justice (New York: Random House, 1998). Whether the 20th century will be seen as a horrific, violent era full of conflict, or as a time replete with omens for coming peace, is considered in light of these works. Minow examines the mechanisms of both vengeance & forgiveness in the 20th century, concluding that while it is not known how to deter genocide & violence, improved strategies for reintegration can be found. Neier focuses on different circumstances of transitional justice in the 20th century & recommends that new approaches for responding to genocide & war crimes be established. The two books are deemed complementary. D. Weibel