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.
The course consists of 10 lectures and 3 interactive seminars.
Students are expected to write a discussion report (group project) and 2 position papers. Submission of both is an obligatory condition to be allowed to take the final written exam.
The evaluation:
Position papers: 1500 words maximum. You need to present your own argument and (using relevant literature or primary documents) its reasoned analysis (you are expected to to show why your argument works, address most apparent opposition, etc.). The topics for position papers are included in the interactive syllabus.
Maximum points: 5 per each position paper (2x5).
Debate: Students will be divided into 3 groups. Each group is expected to submit a written report (a group project) and present its position during one of the seminars. Maximum points: 10.
Written exam.
Grades:
A: 40 - 37
B: 36.5 - 33.5
C: 33 - 30
D: 29.5 - 26.5
E: 26 - 23.5
F - 23 and lower