Transitional Justice in Europe: Convergence or Divergence?

Abstract

This panel is dedicated to reflect and analyse the diversity of transitional justice in Europe. Thereby, one fundamental note plays a vital key role: Europe as well as transitional justice is multi-faceted. Europe human rights and democratization regime is highly affected by history and struggle for political order, its ethnic, linguistic diversity and political systems. Transitional justice measures have been first introduced into the political arena in connection with peace building and democratization processes after WWII. They include different initiatives like criminal prosecutions, truth commissions, reparations programs, public apologies, restitution measures, security system reforms or memorialization efforts. After 1945 and after the political shifts in 1990 the European model of transitional justice has become more in the focus of political science research. It was triggered by the specific norm and standards regime provided through the Council of Europe and the European Union, including the ECtHR and the ECJ as well as the OSCE. In order to answer this questions, conceivable categories have to be analyzes for example the role of IGOs, NGOs and national governments and their interaction, initiatives of transitional justice. Causality and inter-actions, governmental responsiveness, jurisdiction, inclusion as well as exclusion between the international, national and civic actors should be highlighted among the papers given on this panel. Comparative or single country case studies in order to fructify the questions of categories are highly encouraged.

Title	Details
When the Authoritarian Past returns to the Political Agenda. Dealing with the Legacies of Dictatorship in Spain and Poland	View Paper Details
Memory under Pressure: Latvia''s Historical Discourse on Nazi and Soviet Pasts in and after the European Integration Process	View Paper Details
The European Court of Human Rights as a Standard Setter for Transnational Justice	View Paper Details
Impact of Transitional Justice Measures on the Quality of Democracy in European Countries	View Paper Details
Reconciliation through Historical Truth: The Baltic History Commissions as a New Domestic/International Nexus of Transitional Justice in Europe	View Paper Details