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In the wake of large-scale human rights abuses, can the rule of law become (re)instituted? Will perpetrators be held accountable? Can victims feel “restored?”? Is it possible for peace and justice to coexist? These are some of the questions addressed in the field of transitional justice. Transitional justice includes judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, such as criminal prosecutions (international and domestic), truth and reconciliation commissions, memorialization, lustration, institutional reforms, and reparation plans that are used to address past wrongs. This course will examine the goals, tactics, and challenges of transitional justice with particular attention to how politics shapes the viability of legal responses. Through various case studies, we will explore the use of amnesties and pardons as a tool, tensions between the international community and domestic responses, reintegration of perpetrators, capacity building, and the nature of justice itself. The goal of the course is to provide students with the tools to identify and apply transitional justice approaches to active conflict or post-conflict situations, and to promote the rule of law, reconciliation, and long-term stability. <a href="http://bit.ly/1bebp5s" target="_blank">Click here to see evaluations, syllabi, and faculty bios</a>