Institutional reform and compliance with international norms such as human rights and the rule of law are considered to be key to rebuild civic trust and prevent the recurrence of conflict in transition countries. This is reflected in international development programmes, suggesting that such Transitional Justice mechanisms are a precondition for accountable governance and development. However, empirical evidence suggests that this relationship is non-linear. Applying an interdisciplinary – political and juridical – perspective, this paper focuses on the diffusion of norms in transition processes and the actors involved. Drawing on a comparative analysis of a sample of post-conflict states, it examines how international norms are diffused into regional and domestic legal frameworks and tailored to local contexts. Based on this analysis, it argues that a positive impact of transitional justice on better governance is contingent on the inclusion of civil society in the adaptation, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of norms.
