CFP: Disillusions and Accomplishments: How Transitional Justice Changes Societies (Deadline: May 2, 2015)

Call for Papers
Disillusions and Accomplishments: How Transitional Justice Changes Societies
Deadline: May 2, 2015

ORA-NWO Project on The Impact of Transitional Justice Measures on Democratic Institution-building

Date: 30-31 July 2015
Begin: 14:00, Thurs 30 July 2015
End: 14:00 Fri 30 July 2015
Venue:  Utrecht University, Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM), The Netherlands
Raadzaal
Achter Sint Pieter 200, 3512 HT Utrecht
030 253 8033
www.uu.nl/sim
www.tjdi.org

Workshop theme

Transitional Justice is a field of continuous expansion and interdisciplinary dialogue; however, it has been criticized for its lack of consensus in the use of concepts, methods, and variables of measurement and impact. The dissimilar uses of these tools for analysis make it difficult to assess whether transitional justice (TJ) actually brings lasting support to democracy. The aim of this workshop is to facilitate dialogue among scholars engaged in the study of TJ from different perspectives and fields of expertise, including debates on the legal, historical, social, political, post-colonial and philosophical aspects, among others.

We are particularly interested in papers that discuss whether and how TJ mechanisms contribute to, or impede, the enhancement of democratic institutions, their performance, quality or practices. We invite theoretical as well as case studies exploring the multiple ways in which TJ has been related to democracy in a comparative perspective; however, we also welcome papers on single case studies, particularly on Europe and Asia. Possible topics for discussion include, but are not limited to:

– The relationship between TJ and the Rule of Law
– Vetting practices and Judicial Independence
– Methods for Empirical Research of TJ
– Methods for the Evaluation of TJ’s mechanisms and their Outcomes
– The Impact of TJ on Accountability and Transparency
– Reparations and Civil Participation

The workshop is organized by the ORA-NWO Project team at the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (SIM), Utrecht University, on ‘The Impact of Transitional Justice Measures on Democratic Institution-building’ www.tjdi.org. We encourage early career researchers and PhD students on the last stages of their research to participate.

Please submit your intention to participate together with a short bio, abstract (250 words) before 2 May 2015 and insert “Submission: TJDI workshop” as the subject line of the message. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by 9 May 2015. Limited funding is available for travel grants; please inform us whether you need financial support (approximate costs) to attend the workshop. Attendance will be open to interested researchers, students and practitioners. Keynote speakers to be confirmed.

Send abstracts and questions to:

Dr Sandra Milena Rios Oyola
S.M.RiosOyola@uu.nl
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM)
Faculty of Law, Governance and Economics
Utrecht University
Achter Sint Pieter 200,  3512 HT Utrecht, The Netherlands

ORA-NWO Research Project on Transitional Justice and Democratic Institution Building 2013-2016 www.tjdi.org

TJDI July workshop