Diaspora Mobilization for Transitional Justice in the Absence of Transition

• In Event: MENA Diasporas, Authoritarianism and Activism in Exile (Pre-Recorded)

Abstract

Transitional justice typically ‘deals with the past’ and, consequently, focuses on retrospective attempts at dealing with injustices. Therefore, less attention has been afforded to the study of why transitional justice demands and claims are pursued by civil society during conflict – especially under circumstances where there is ostensibly no visible transition occurring and mechanisms of justice seem remote. Why do diasporas continue to engage in prospective transitional justice when it seems unlikely that they will succeed? Interview data reveals that, despite unfavorable circumstances, the Syrian diaspora are persistent in their transitional justice claims for three reasons. First, they have a sense of moral obligation to do so. Second, framing claims in terms of transitional justice, human rights and international law is perceived as the best strategy to transform Syrian society. Third, transitional justice discourse is an avenue through which diaspora organizations seek to secure institutional survival.

Authors

• Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm, University of Arkansas, Little Rock

• Espen Stokke, University of Bergen