Decolonization and Restorative Justice: A Proposed Theoretical Framework.

Abstract

The concept of decolonization has been used in numerous disciplines and settings, including education, psychology, governance, justice, transitional justice, restorative justice as well as research methods. Fanon (1963) saw decolonization as a process of both unlearning and undoing the harms of colonization. For Monchalin (2016), decolonization is both a goal and process to bring about a fundamental shift in colonial structures, ideologies and discourses. According to Alfred (2009, p. 185), decolonization requires “nation-to-nation partnership” for “justice and peace”. In the context of Restorative Justice (RJ), decolonization entail a) addressing historical harms of colonization; b) recognizing grievances of indigenous and marginalized communities about the justice system as genuine; and c) acknowledging that state- or INGO-funded RJ practices may do more harm than good. This paper begins with a brief overview of decolonization discourses from micro and macro perspectives to then locate decolonization in justice settings, arguing against “copying and pasting” Eurocentric models of RJ practices. Grounded in the findings of RJ visionaries and practitioners in Bangladesh and the work of Cunneen (2002), and Tauri and Morris (1997), this study proposes a decolonizing framework for RJ practices.

Case report: A community case study of the human-animal bond in animal-assisted therapy: the experiences of psychiatric prisoners with therapy dogs

“…Second, it is essential to include participants who identify as Indigenous (two did in this study), as they make up a significant proportion of the Canadian federal prison population ( 82 ). To do so would be in alignment with Canada's commitment to decolonization, including in the prison context ( 83 ). The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action emphasize the need to implement and evaluate community sanctions ( 84 ), which should include connection to animals as part of a holistic approach to wellness ( 85 ).…”

Revitalizing Urban Governance: Integrating Smart Growth and Decolonial Perspectives for Municipal Empowerment in Shaping Growth Across Egyptian Desert Landscapes

“…Decolonization is a complex process that involves actively dismantling the legacies of colonization in governance. This includes critically examining historical injustices, acknowledging and addressing grievances, and challenging the limitations of former Eurocentric approaches to justice (Asadullah, 2021). Efforts to harness collective intelligence in customizing housing and infrastructure to respond to the socioeconomic needs of local communities will help accelerate the population growth rates in new towns and cities.…”

Holistic Defense: Attorney Perception and Social Work Integration in the Courtroom

“…While attorneys are critical to fundamentally changing the legal process, social workers and other social services practitioners can also implement change within the confines of the existing system in order to begin the decolonization process and start the process of systematic transformation. Asadullah (2021) indicates that there are multiple steps that social workers can take on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to begin to implement a more restorative and decolonized criminal justice system. The first is freeing the system of relying on the western ways of social process.…”