Transitional justice and post-conflict in Northern Ireland: challenges of memory and reconciliation
Abstract
This article critically analyzes transitional justice in Northern Ireland after The Troubles, assessing its impact on reconciliation. Although the Good Friday Agreement (1998) was a milestone, the implementation of transitional justice measures has been fragmented and politicized. The four pillars of transitional justice —truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-repetition— are examined, highlighting advances such as police reform and institutional acknowledgments of responsibility. However, significant challenges persist, including impunity, divided collective memories, and the 2023 Amnesty Law. The article concludes that, while transitional justice has contributed to institutional peace, it has not achieved deep social reconciliation. Measures to strengthen truth-seeking, collective memory, and intercommunal dialogue are proposed as essential steps toward genuine reconciliation.
Received: 15 May 2025; Accepted: 21 November 2025
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References
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