IREb2029 Transitional Justice and Democratization

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Katarína Šipulová, Ph.D., MSt (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 24. 9. 18:00–19:40 U32, Tue 1. 10. 18:00–19:40 U32, Tue 15. 10. 18:00–21:00 U32, Tue 22. 10. 18:00–21:00 U32, Tue 29. 10. 18:00–19:40 U32, Tue 5. 11. 18:00–21:00 U32, Tue 12. 11. 18:00–19:40 U32, Tue 19. 11. 18:00–21:00 U32, Tue 26. 11. 18:00–19:40 U32, Tue 3. 12. 18:00–19:40 U32, Tue 10. 12. 18:00–21:00 U32, Tue 17. 12. 18:00–19:40 U32
Prerequisites
Ability to read and understand written English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 24/30, only registered: 2/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 16 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Transitions do not end with political elections or handover of power. One of the most troubling questions every transitioning society needs to tackle is how to integrate personnel and victims of the previous regime. Choices whether and how to punish the worst crimes perpetrators trouble new political elites and spure many scientific debates. The aim of the course Transitional Justice and Democratization is to introduce students into the field of study which explores various models in which emerging states address past atrocities and human rights violations . While deeply embedded in the form of the regime transition, transitional justice choices influence the future institutional setup as well as distribution of power between new political actors. The course aims to explain the genesis of the concept, theories standing behind transitional justice, and conditions laid on states by individual international organisations. It introduces causalities of transitional justice choices and explains the relationship between transitional justice and democratization. A particular focus is put on European countries and de-communisation policies implemented after 1989. Similarly, a current role of the European Union, both in the field of foreign policy and towards its own member countries, is analysed in a separate lecture.
Learning outcomes
understanding transnational justice understanding the current role of the European Union
Syllabus
  • Introduction to TJ
  • Theories and Actors of TJ
  • International criminal tribunals I
  • International criminal tribunals II - Hybrid courts
  • Truth and Reconciliation commissions
  • International Actors of Transitional Justice
  • De-communisation and Transitional Justice
  • Lustration
  • Secret Police Archives
  • Victim oriented transitional justice
  • Transitional Justice and Democratization
  • The EU and Transitional Justice Agenda
  • Transitional Justice and Democratic Backsliding
Literature
  • ŠIPULOVÁ, Katarína and Hubert SMEKAL. Between Human Rights and Transitional Justice : The Dilemma of Constitutional Courts in Post-Communist Central Europe. Europe-Asia Studies. Abingdon: Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis, 2021, vol. 73, No 1, p. 101-130. ISSN 0966-8136. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2020.1841739. Open access časopisu info
  • HORNE, Cynthia Michalski. Building trust and democracy : transitional justice in post-communist countries. First edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017, xviii, 350. ISBN 9780198793328. info
  • Research handbook on transitional justice. Edited by Cheryl Lawther - Luke Moffett - Dov Jacobs. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017, xv, 550. ISBN 9781781955307. info
  • Post-communist transitional justice : lessons from twenty-five years of experience. Edited by Lavinia Stan - Nadya Nedelsky. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015, xvi, 340. ISBN 9781107065567. info
  • DAVID, Roman. Lustration and transitional justice : personnel systems in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. 1st ed. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011, xiv, 312. ISBN 9780812243314. info
  • Assessing the impact of transitional justice : challenges for empirical research. Edited by Hugo Van der Merwe - Victoria Baxter - Audrey R. Chapman. 1st pub. Washington: United States institute of peace press, 2009, ix, 345. ISBN 9781601270368. info
  • NALEPA, Monika. Skeletons in the closet : transitional justice in post-Communist Europe. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009, xxiii, 300. ISBN 9780521735506. info
  • FUTAMURA, Madoka. War crimes tribunals and transitional justice : the Tokyo trial and the Nuremburg legacy. New York: Routledge, 2007, xii, 213. ISBN 9780415426732. info
  • ELSTER, Jon. Closing the books : transitional justice in historical perspective. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004, xii, 298. ISBN 0521548543. URL info
  • Transitional justice. Edited by Ruti G. Teitel. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, ix, 292 p. ISBN 0195100646. info
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, group projects, presentations by professionals in the sectors,
Assessment methods
one report (written preparation for a debate), one position paper, final exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
The teacher's lectures will be only an introduction to the subject. Much emphasis is placed on self-study of the obligatory literature.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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