Transitional Justice and the Historical Abuses of Church and State

Reviews / Votes

'This compelling book offers a radical critique of transitional justice efforts in liberal democracies. Challenging readers to interrogate their investment in half-hearted redress, James Gallen emphasises that we cannot make amends for violent pasts without dismantling foundational elements of the liberal legal order. Transitional justice is the work of generations, and there can be no shortcuts.' Mairead Enright, University of Birmingham 'Sweeping and broad-ranging in its scope, this is an ambitious, original treatise on the way forward for the political and legal redress of past abuses committed by Church and State. Gallen powerfully argues for a distinct justice response to these international historical abuses, one that transcends orthodox principles of transitional justice to challenge structural power relations. The book makes significant contributions to the ontological process of truth-telling for different groups of survivors in various jurisdictions, as well as to the study of transitional and transformative justice. It is essential reading for practitioners and scholars of historical and institutional abuses across the West.' Kate Gleeson, Macquarie University 'This book offers a wide-ranging, critical analysis of the historical abuses of church and state in western societies within a transitional justice framework. Well-written and highly accessible, it is a timely and very important contribution to the literature. This book will be a key text for decades to come.' Anne-Marie McAlinden, Queen's University Belfast