In many societies, violence and human rights abuses committed during conflict are inextricably related to deep divisions based on identities.  These can be perceived to fall along ethno-religious or- linguistic or regional lines, and/or on histories of socio-economic exclusion, but however constructed they shape people's perceptions of themselves and justice and have proven to be highly resistant to change.  How do conflict, and the perecption of injustice, shape and harden identities?  How can transitional justice processes after conflict contribute to diminishing the potential for the continuation of discrimination and inter-group hostilities?

This roundtable brings together three experts on transitional justice.  

Paige Arthur will set the stage and examine how the origins of ethnic and identity conflicts affects the choices and priorities with respect to transitional justice efforts.  Arthur was the project director at the International Centre for Transitional Justice of Identities in Transition: Challenges for Transnational Justice in Divided Societies (published by Cambridge University Press, 2011).

Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow Cecile Aptel will discuss how international criminal tribunals, for example, the Yugoslavia and Rwanada UN tribunals, deal with crimes committed in the context of ethno-religious conflicts, and examines whether prosecutions for these crimes help bridge divides, or whether they rather entrench them.

Senior Program Officer Lili Cole will examine whether and how history education reforms can affect hardened, zero-sum group identities after conflict, with a focus on the case study of South Africa.  Should the focuse be on changing curricula, the content of learning materials, the structure of segregated education systems, or the pedagogical approaches of teachers?

Speakers

• Paige Arthur, Discussant
  Editor, "Identities in Transition: Challenges for Transitional Justice in Divided Societies"
  Forner Deputy Director, International Development, International Center for Transitional Justice
• Cecile Aptel, Discussant
  Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Elizabeth "Lili" Cole, Discussant
  Senior Program Officer, Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, Moderator
  Director, Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

Related Academy Courses

• Cultural Adaptability in Complex Operations
• Overseas Religious Engagement
• Engaging with Identity-Based Differences