Just and Unjust Peace: An Ethic of Political Reconciliation (Studies in Strategic Peacebuilding)

Winner of the 2013 Christianity Today Book Award in Missions / Global Affairs Winner of the Aldersgate Prize Honorable Mention Winner of the 2014 International Studies Association International Ethics Section Book Award In the wake of massive injustice, how can justice be achieved and peace restored? Is it possible to find a universal standard that will work for people of diverse and often conflicting religious, cultural, and philosophical backgrounds? In Just and Unjust Peace , Daniel Philpott offers an innovative and hopeful response to these questions. He challenges the approach to peace-building that dominates the United Nations, western governments, and the human rights community. While he shares their commitments to human rights and democracy, Philpott argues that these values alone cannot redress the wounds caused by war, genocide, and dictatorship. Both justice and the effective restoration of political order call for a more holistic, restorative approach. Philpott answers that call by proposing a form of political reconciliation that is deeply rooted in three religious traditions--Christianity, Islam, and Judaism--as well as the restorative justice movement. These traditions offer the fullest expressions of the core concepts of justice, mercy, and peace. By adapting these ancient concepts to modern constitutional democracy and international norms, Philpott crafts an ethic that has widespread appeal and offers real hope for the restoration of justice in fractured communities. From the roots of these traditions, Philpott develops six practices--building just institutions and relations between states, acknowledgment, reparations, restorative punishment, apology and, most important, forgiveness--which he then applies to real cases, identifying how each practice redresses a unique set of wounds. Focusing on places as varied as Bosnia, Iraq, South Africa, Germany, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Chile and many others--and drawing upon the actual experience of victims and perpetrators-- Just and Unjust Peace offers a fresh approach to the age-old problem of restoring justice in the aftermath of widespread injustice. In The Wake Of Massive Injustice, How Can Justice Be Achieved And Peace Restored? Is It Possible To Find A Universal Standard That Will Work For People Of Diverse And Often Conflicting Religious, Cultural, And Philosophical Backgrounds? In Just And Unjust Peace, Daniel Philpott Offers An Innovative And Hopeful Response To These Questions. He Challenges The Approach To Peace-building That Dominates The United Nations, Western Governments, And The Human Rights Community. While He Shares Their Commitments To Human Rights And Democracy, Philpott Argues That These Values Alone Cannot Redress The Wounds Caused By War, Genocide, And Dictatorship. Both Justice And The Effective Restoration Of Political Order Call For A More Holistic, Restorative Approach. Philpott Answers That Call By Proposing A Form Of Political Reconciliation That Is Deeply Rooted In Three Religious Traditions{u2014}christianity, Islam, And Judaism{u2014}as Well As The Restorative Justice Movement. These Traditions Offer The Fullest Expressions Of The Core Concepts Of Justice, Mercy, And Peace. By Adapting These Ancient Concepts To Modern Constitutional Democracy And International Norms, Philpott Crafts An Ethic That Has Widespread Appeal And Offers Real Hope For The Restoration Of Justice In Fractured Communities. From The Roots Of These Traditions, Philpott Develops Six Practices{u2014}building Just Institutions And Relations Between States, Acknowledgment, Reparations, Restorative Punishment, Apology And, Most Important, Forgiveness{u2014}which He Then Applies To Real Cases, Identifying How Each Practice Redresses A Unique Set Of Wounds. Focusing On Places As Varied As Bosnia, Iraq, South Africa, Germany, Sierra Leone, Timor-leste, Chile And Many Others{u2014}and Drawing Upon The Actual Experience Of Victims And Perpetrators{u2014}just And Unjust Peace Offers A Fresh Approach To The Age-old Problem Of Restoring Justice In The Aftermath Of Widespread Injustice. Whose Justice? -- The Basic Standards Of Justice -- The Wounds Of Political Injustice -- Reconciliation As A Concept Of Justice -- Is Reconciliation Fit For Politics? -- Is Religion Fit For Reconciliation? -- Reconciliation In The Jewish Tradition -- Reconciliation In The Christian Tradition -- Reconciliation In The Islamic Tradition -- Four Practices : Building Institutions For Social Justice, Acknowledgment, Reparations, And Apology -- Punishment -- Forgiveness. Daniel Philpott. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In the wake of massive injustice, how can justice be achieved and peace restored? Is it possible to find a universal standard that will work for people of diverse and often conflicting religious, cultural, and philosophical backgrounds? In Just and Unjust Peace , Daniel Philpott offers an innovative and hopeful response to these questions. He challenges the approach to peace-building that dominates the United Nations, western governments, and the human rights community. While he shares their commitments to human rights and democracy, Philpott argues that these values alone cannot redress the wounds caused by war, genocide, and dictatorship. Both justice and the effective restoration of political order call for a more holistic, restorative approach. Philpott answers that call by proposing a form of political reconciliation that is deeply rooted in three religious traditions - Christianity, Islam, and Judaism - as well as the restorative justice movement. These traditions offer the fullest expressions of the core concepts of justice, mercy, and peace. By adapting these ancient concepts to modern constitutional democracy and international norms, Philpott crafts an ethic that has widespread appeal and offers real hope for the restoration of justice in fractured communities. From the roots of these traditions, Philpott develops six practices - building just institutions and relations between states, acknowledgment, reparations, restorative punishment, apology and, most important, forgiveness - which he then applies to real cases, identifying how each practice redresses a unique set of wounds. Focusing on places as varied as Bosnia, Iraq, South Africa, Germany, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Chile and many others - and drawing upon the actual experience of victims and perpetrators - Just and Unjust Peace offers a fresh approach to the age-old problem of restoring justice in the aftermath of widespread injustice. ## Abstract In the wake of massive injustice, how can justice be achieved and peace restored? This book offers an innovative and hopeful response to these questions. It challenges the approach to peacebuilding that dominates the United Nations, Western governments, and the human rights community. While this book shares their commitments to human rights and democracy, it argues that these values alone cannot redress the wounds caused by war, genocide, and dictatorship. Both justice and the effective restoration of political order call for a more holistic, restorative approach. The book answers that call by proposing a form of political reconciliation that is deeply rooted in three religious traditions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—as well as the restorative justice movement. These traditions offer the fullest expressions of the core concepts of justice, mercy, and peace. By adapting these ancient concepts to modern constitutional democracy and international norms, the book crafts an ethic that has widespread appeal and offers real hope for the restoration of justice in fractured communities. From the roots of these traditions, the book develops six practices—building just institutions and relations between states, acknowledgment, reparations, restorative punishment, apology and, most important, forgiveness—which the book then applies to real cases, identifying how each practice redresses a unique set of wounds. Focusing on places as varied as Bosnia, Iraq, South Africa, Germany, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Chile, and many others—and drawing on the actual experience of victims and perpetrators—this book offers a fresh approach to the age-old problem of restoring justice in the aftermath of widespread injustice. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 16 PART ONE: Reconciliation as a Concept of Justice 28 1. Whose Justice? 30 2. The Basic Standards of Justice 38 3. The Wounds of Political Injustice 45 4. Reconciliation as a Concept of Justice 63 5. Is Reconciliation Fit for Politics? 89 PART TWO: Religion and Reconciliation 110 6. Is Religion Fit for Reconciliation? 112 7. Reconciliation in the Jewish Tradition 134 8. Reconciliation in the Christian Tradition 149 9. Reconciliation in the Islamic Tradition 166 PART THREE: Practicing Political Reconciliation 184 10. Four Practices: Building Socially Just Institutions, Acknowledgment, Reparations, and Apologies 186 11. Punishment 222 12. Forgiveness 266 Conclusion 301 Notes 306 Index 356 A 356 B 357 C 358 D 358 E 358 F 359 G 359 H 360 I 360 J 361 K 361 L 361 M 362 N 362 O 363 P 363 R 364 S 364 T 365 U 366 V 366 W 367 Y 367 Z 367 In the wake of political evil on a large scale, what does justice consist of? Daniel Philpott takes up this question in Just and Unjust Peace. While scholars have written about many aspects of dealing with past injustice, no general ethic has emerged. Philpott seeks to provide a holistic model that delivers concrete ethical guidelines for societies striving to build peace. In the wake of political evil on a large scale, what does justice consist of? Daniel Philpott takes up this question in this book. Philpott provides a holistic model that delivers concrete ethical guidelines for societies striving to build peace.