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Memory, Forgiveness and Unfinished Justice in the Former Yugoslavia.
- Source :
-
Journal of Balkan & Near Eastern Studies . Aug2017, Vol. 19 Issue 4, p366-387. 22p. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Drawing its examples from the case of the former Yugoslavia, the paper explores the difficult intersections of justice, memory and forgiveness where the present bears the traces of a violent past of inter-communal conflict and mass crimes. It specifically delves into the limits of institutional attempts to respond in a redemptory and permanent manner to the claims for justice in a political community scarred by such a tormenting past. It examines three judicial or semi-judicial manifestations of memory based on how they relate to the past(s) of the former Yugoslavia: (a) the punishment of the perpetrators, (b) the recognition of the crimes committed, and (c) forgetfulness in the name of peace and progress. Promoting reconciliation, governments often qualify a plea for forgiving as the last recourse to the impasse of institutional justice. At this fragile moment, forgiveness presents itself as a remedy for the impossibilities of institutional justice, without however fully evading the dangers of political expedience or the Western metaphysics of a ‘universal’ (Christian) ethos. Discussing memory as a dimension of justice, the paper concludes that if this intricate bond remains unexamined, the possibility of forgiveness in the former Yugoslavia could hardly attain any political meaning or vigour. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Subjects :
- *JUSTICE
*FORGIVENESS
*RECONCILIATION
*CRIMES against humanity
YUGOSLAVIAN history
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19448953
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Balkan & Near Eastern Studies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 123449633
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/19448953.2017.1280978