This multi-disciplinary collection interrogates the role of human rights in addressing past injustices. The volume draws on legal scholars, political scientists, anthropologists and political philosophers grappling with the weight of the memory of historical injustices arising from conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and Australasia. It examines the role of human rights as legal doctrine, rhetoric and policy as developed by states, international organizations, regional groups and non-governmental bodies. The authors question whether faith in human rights is justified as balm to heal past injustice or whether such faith nourishes both victimhood and self-justification. These issues are explored through three discrete sections: moments of memory and injustice, addressing injustice; and questions of faith. In each of these sections, authors address the manner in which memory of past conflicts and injustice haunt our contemporary understanding of human rights. The volume questions whether the expectation that human rights law can deal with past injustice has undermined the development of an emancipatory politics of human rights for our current world.
Ruminating on the relationship between law, memory, and human rights, this impressive collection dazzles in content and scope. Its empirically rich and theoretically provocative contributions range from international law to literary studies, crossing an expanse of geographies and histories, all to remind readers that while wrongs cannot be righted, and memory cannot be trusted, the pursuit of justice in the present cannot be abandoned. A valuable collection for scholars - legal and otherwise - working in the areas of transitional justice, de-colonization, reconciliation, and public memory.
Stacy Douglas, Assistant Professor of Law and Legal Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
