This paper examines whether TJ can contribute to ending mismanagement, corruption and resulting human rights violations, often seen as the root causes of conflict, e.g. in the ‘Arab Spring‘. The underlying assumption is that TJ can function as a tool to this end by exposing ‘bad governance‘ practices. The paper examines policy frameworks of international actors regarding their ambition to end ‘bad governance’ and analyses how these frameworks find their way into TJ policies. Finally, the paper examines whether TJ can contribute beyond this exposing function to achieve changes in discourse and practice by taking a closer look at the Tunisian case. Though ending ‘bad governance’ has a prominent place in the Tunisian TJ discourse and issues of corruption, embezzlement and socio-economic rights have found their way into TJ policies, double structures in fighting corruption and controversial reparation policies show that challenges remain for changes in practice and perception.
