by Oskar N.T. Thoms, James Ron and Roland Paris
CIPS Working Paper, April 2008

  • This working paper reviews the state of empirical knowledge on the effects of transitional justice mechanisms.
  • Does TJ strengthen or threaten peace in transitional societies? Does it lead to greater or less respect for human rights and the rule of law? Does it foster reconciliation or exacerbate divisions?
  • The time has come for local and international policymakers to engage these questions with systematically collected and analyzed evidence.

Full text (pdf)

Oskar N.T. Thoms is Visiting Research Associate at CIPS. He has previously consulted on research projects supported by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

James Ron is Associate Professor, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. He has led research projects supported by DFAIT and CIDA, and has carried out commissioned work for Human Rights Watch, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and CARE-USA. He is a member of Human Rights Watch’s Canada Council.

Roland Paris is University Research Chair in International Security and Governance, and Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.