TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN POST-CONFLICT SOCIETIES: UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF TRANSITIONAL MECHANISMS IN PROMOTING HEALING AND RECONCILIATION AFTER CONFLICT

Abstract

Post-conflict societies often grapple with deep-rooted wounds, polarized identities, and weakened institutions, making the pursuit of peace and reconciliation both urgent and fragile. Transitional justice mechanisms—including truth commissions, trials, reparations, and institutional reforms—have emerged as essential tools in bridging the gap between justice and reconciliation. This paper explores the theoretical and practical significance of transitional justice in promoting societal healing after conflict, with special emphasis on its effectiveness in fostering sustainable peace. Using a comparative analytical approach, the study highlights the multidimensional role of truth commissions in revealing atrocities, war crime tribunals in deterring impunity, reparative schemes in restoring dignity to victims, and institutional reforms in rebuilding public trust. The article also assesses the challenges of transitional justice such as political resistance, selective accountability, resource scarcity, and lack of inclusivity, which often undermine long-term reconciliation. Graphical illustrations highlight key trends in global transitional justice adoption, public perception of mechanisms, and reconciliation indices in post-conflict societies. A table compares diverse transitional justice approaches, demonstrating their relative contributions to peacebuilding. The discussion underscores that while transitional justice is not a universal cure, when integrated into broader peacebuilding frameworks, it significantly aids in transforming fractured societies into resilient democracies. The study concludes by recommending hybrid approaches that blend international legal standards with local cultural practices, ensuring inclusivity, legitimacy, and sustainability of peace processes.