Reconciliation

The transformation of conflict and post-conflict societies through transitional justice is now recognized as vital to the process of peace-building, with mechanisms such as trials, truth commissions, and apologies seen as essential for effecting societal change. It is widely argued that 'reconciliation' is a key element of this process, yet both scholars and practitioners are unclear as to what the concept is or how the process works. "Reconciliation(s)" considers the definition of the concept of reconciliation itself, focusing on the definitional dialogue that arises from the attempts to situate reconciliation within a theoretical and analytical framework. Contributing authors champion competing definitions, but all agree that it plays an important role in building relationships of trust and cohesion. The essays in this book also consider the nature and utility of reconciliation in a number of contexts, evaluating both its function and efficacy. A comprehensive evaluation of reconciliation as a means of bringing about social healing, "Reconciliation(s)" will be of interest to scholars from a broad range of disciplines. Contributors include Caitlin Donnelly (Queen's Belfast), Stephanus Du Toit (Institute for Justice and Reconciliation), Samar El-Masri (Prince Sultan University, Riyadh), Nicholas Frayling (Dean, Chichester Cathedral), Mark Freeman (International Center for Transitional Justice), Trudy Govier (Lethbridge), Brandon Hamber (Ulster), Joanne Hughes (Queen's Belfast), Anita Isaacs (Haverford), Grainne Kelly (INCORE, University of Ulster), Rosemary Nagy (Nipissing), Veerle Opgenhaffen (International Center for Transitional Justice), Valerie Perry (OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina), Joanna R. Quinn (Western), and Laurence Thomas (Syracuse).