Closing the Books: Transitional Justice in Historical Perspective [Paperback]

Jon Elster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521548543 | ISBN-13: 978-0521548540 | Publication Date: September 6, 2004

After a change of political system, notably a transition from an autocratic to a democratic, or at least constitutional, regime, a process of transitional justice emerges in which wrongdoers from the previous regime are judged responsible and victims are compensated. John Elster looks at examples and proposes a framework for explaining variations. In addition to the numerous transitions after 1945 in Western Europe and after 1989 in Eastern Europe, transitional justice has taken place in classical Greece, the English and French restorations, and, more recently, in Latin America and South Africa. John Elster looks at these examples in this history of transitional justice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Closing the Books is a fascinating examination of matters important to both law and political science."
The Law and Politics Book Review, Matthew Holden, Jr.

"...an important contribution... provides interesting and valuable analysis... fills an important gap in European policies that deal with the past."
Perspectives on Politics

"The book has interesting observations to make about the several dilemnas facing would-be doers of transititional justice...what he has done provides pleny of material for reflection about ethical perplexities, both perennial and very timely." - Harry Clor, Kenyan College

Book Description

After a change of political system, notably a transition from an autocratic to a democratic or at least constitutional regime, one usually observes a process of transitional justice in which wrongdoers from the previous regime are held to account and its victims compensated. In addition to the numerous transitions after 1945 in Western Europe and after 1989 in Eastern Europe, transitional justice has taken place in classical Greece, the English and French restorations, and more recently in Latin America and South Africa. The book describes the universe of cases, and proposes a framework for explaining the variations among them.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521548543
• ISBN-13: 978-0521548540
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,346,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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