Rethinking Transitional Justice with the Insights of Political Sociology

Abstract

Abstract This chapter tackles the rethinking of transitional justice with the insights of political sociologyto deepen understanding of the processes of social change occurring outside established political structures. In Colombia, similar to other countries that have decided to create truth commissions or tribunals under the banner of transitional justice, most of the push for a transitional justice intervention was locally. Thus, domestic actors were critical in ensuring the government did not ignore their calls for truth, justice, and reparation. The chapter argues that an actor-focused approach in studying transitional justice in Colombia reveals the vertical and horizontal dimensions of political power.