"In this timely and provocative book, Djeyhoun Ostowar tackles the widespread view that transitional justice's entanglement with liberal peacebuilding inevitably entails the imposition of Western norms, values and practices. Through three rich case studies of Kosovo, Timor-Leste and Afghanistan, he shows that this perspective ignores crucial forms of local agency - some of which are only possible because of the involvement of international actors. This book challenges a great deal of orthodox thinking about how best to address mass atrocity and is guaranteed to stir considerable debate."--Phil Clark, SOAS University of London, UK
"Calls for the fostering of victim and community-led approaches to transitional justice demand examples of where this has succeeded and failed, alongside empirical and theoretical guidance for what to look for and how to optimize the agency of the local. Djeyhoun Ostowar's examination of the agency of external actors, transitional justice promoters, and transitional regimes takes enormous steps forward in this vein for both discourse and practice."--Chris Mahony, World Bank and former UNDP Transitional Justice Global Focal Point
"A much-needed examination of effectiveness and legitimacy in transitional justice processes in UN-mandated peacebuilding contexts. Djehoun Ostowar develops an actor-contingent model of analysis, which proves particularly effective in accounting for the complex web of interactions and decision-making typically involved in designing and conducting a process, as well as in implementing outcomes."--Djordje Djordjevic, Deputy Permanent Observer to the United Nations of the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO)
1. Introduction: Liberal Peace and Justice? 2. An Actor-Centred Analytical Framework 3. Kosovo: Multilayered Accountability 4. Parallel Justice for East Timor 5. The Near-Absence of Justice in Afghanistan 6.Conclusion: Actor-Contingent and Malleable Justice
Djeyhoun Ostowar is a diplomat at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has a PhD in War Studies from King's College London, UK.