Transitional Justice - Post-Post-Soviet Space and Beyond
Study Course Implementer
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
Preliminary Knowledge
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Using the in-depth knowledge gained in the course about the transitional justice and its specifics in the post-post-Soviet space, students will compare different mechanisms of transition of rule of law, analyze the rationale and results of their choice. Based on the analysis of the literature on the experience of historical and existing transition processes, students will describe the processes of transitional justice and their impact on current legal dilemmas, for example, in matters of shared ownership.
Skills
1.Students will choose scientific literature appropriate for the individual work. Students will critically evaluate the ideas expressed in the scientific literature and discuss the interpretation of these ideas in the presentations for colleagues. By developing research work, students will compare and analyze the mechanisms of transition of rule of law chosen by different countries.
Competences
1.By analyzing interdisciplinary literature and developing research work, students will integrate the knowledge and methods of different fields (political, legal sciences, history), therefore strengthening interdisciplinary research competencies. Contrasting the experiences of different countries and the chosen models, students will demonstrate an understanding of comparative policy methods in practice.
Assessment
Individual work
Examination
Study Course Theme Plan
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What is transitional justice? Emergence of transitional justice as a branch of science
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Goals, means, approach of transitional justice
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Historical stages of transitional justice
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Overview of regions and processes. Levels and institutions involved
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Actors and their roles
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Trials and amnesties
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Trials and amnesties. Tribunals and courts
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Truth Commissions
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Truth Commissions.
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Reparations and compensation programmes. Institutional reforms. Vetting. Other mechanisms
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Individual consultations
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Presentations of case studies: Argentina & Chile. Comparison analysis.
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Discussion “Judge or forgive?” based on required readings.
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Presentations of case studies: South Africa & Rwanda. Comparison analysis.
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Presentations of case studies: Poland & Germany. Comparison analysis.
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Presentations of case studies: Czech Republic & Slovakia. Comparison analysis.
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Paper presentations: Does TJ work?
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Presentations of case studies: The Baltic States. Comparison analysis.
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Presentations of case studies: Latvia & Moldova.
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Paper presentations: focus on former Soviet Union.
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Paper presentations: What can money buy?
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Paper presentations: Memory laws and memory politics.
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Exam
-
What is transitional justice? Emergence of transitional justice as a branch of science
-
Goals, means, approach of transitional justice
-
Historical stages of transitional justice
-
Overview of regions and processes. Levels and institutions involved
-
Actors and their roles
-
Trials and amnesties
-
Trials and amnesties. Tribunals and courts
-
Truth Commissions
-
Truth Commissions.
-
Reparations and compensation programmes. Institutional reforms. Vetting. Other mechanisms
-
Individual consultations
-
Presentations of case studies: Argentina & Chile. Comparison analysis.
-
Discussion “Judge or forgive?” based on required readings.
-
Presentations of case studies: South Africa & Rwanda. Comparison analysis.
-
Presentations of case studies: Poland & Germany. Comparison analysis.
-
Presentations of case studies: Czech Republic & Slovakia. Comparison analysis.
-
Paper presentations: Does TJ work?
-
Presentations of case studies: The Baltic States. Comparison analysis.
-
Presentations of case studies: Latvia & Moldova.
-
Paper presentations: focus on former Soviet Union.
-
Paper presentations: What can money buy?
-
Paper presentations: Memory laws and memory politics.
-
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem
Horne, et al. Transitional Justice and the Former Soviet Union: Reviewing the Past, Looking toward the Future / Edited by Cynthia M. Horne, Lavinia Stan. 2018.
Lavinia Stan. Transitional Justice in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union: Reckoning with the Communist Past / Edited by Lavinia Stan. Routledge, 2009.
Post-Communist Transitional Justice/ Ed. by Lavinia Stan, Nadra Nedelsky. Cambridge University press, 2015.
An introduction to Transitional Justice. 2nd ed./ Ed. by Olivera Simič. Routledge, 2021.
Other readings are given under each lecture topic. Most materials are available online (RSU or National Library of Latvia access, Google books, or free online access).
Additional Reading
Readings on case studies and required reading for seminars are given under each seminar topic (RSU or National Library of Latvia access).
Other Information Sources
Transitional Justice Research Collaborative website.