Importance and Difficulties of Victim-Based Research in Post-Conflict Societies

Rombouts,

doi:10.1163/157181702401475412

Cited by 24 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For instance, scholars have found that Yazidi survivors of ISIL atrocities in Syria share an ‘understanding of justice principally focused on local issues, immediate concerns, agency, and prospects of a better future’ rather than a ‘narrow’ focus on ‘accountability through criminal trials’ (Akhavan et al, 2020: 2). In their call for localized alternatives, these authors echo lessons from work that emphasizes context-sensitive reparative measures like compensation or land restitution (Robins, 2011; Rombouts, 2002: 217).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Retributive or reparative justice? Explaining post-conflict preferences in Kenya

Aloyo

Dancy

Dutton

2022

Journal of Peace Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In states emerging from mass violence and human rights abuses, do individuals prefer retributive punishment of perpetrators through trials, or do they wish to be compensated with land or monetary reparations for their injuries? How does the concrete option of prosecutions by the International Criminal Court (ICC) moderate these preferences? Using unique survey data from 507 Kenyans collected in 2015, we build on and add nuance to the empirical literature that interrogates the link between exposure to mass violence and post-conflict justice preferences. We find that while some individuals prefer reparative justice, victims and witnesses generally want perpetrators to be prosecuted. Even for those who are co-ethnics of government leaders – who allegedly instigated widespread killing, sexual assaults and displacements – direct exposure to those acts leads to greater desire for prosecutions. We further find that one’s personal experience with violence also leads one to reject domestic justice in favor of international justice: victims and witnesses who favored retributive justice are highly likely to believe that the ICC is the best option for prosecuting perpetrators.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%