Transitional Justice

History, despite its wrenching pain, 

Cannot be unlived, but if faced 

With courage, need not be lived again. 

- Maya Angelou 

Overview:  

What would you do if you were confronted with the murders of your father? Your family? Your people? How would you want justice to be served? In this class we will explore different definitions and pursuits of justice after violent discriminations that were attempted in an effort to help transition into a better future. Together we will study the approach of courts and truth commissions, along with other legal, political and educational reforms that have been used to help prosecute criminals, find truth, and prevent future atrocities from happening again. 

Essential Questions:

- How is responsibility evaluated in times of mass atrocities?

- What determines effective execution of justice?

- Does justice serve the victims, perpetrators, and/or future generations?

- How does justice help set a precedent for future crimes?

- When and how should outsiders get involved in crimes against humanity?

Units: 

1. Justice after the Holocaust – Raphael Lemkin and Nuremberg

2. Justice after the South African Apartheid – Truth and Reconciliation

3. Memorials, Literature and Art – Variety of Case Studies (Potential Trip to the Whitney)

4. International Justice Today – the debate over the US joining the International Criminal Court