Since World War II, civil conflicts have led to the deaths of 16 million people, leaving behind deep-seated grievances that fuel repeated cycles of violence. The great majority of current civil wars are relapses of previous violence. To break this cycle, many countries turn to Transitional Justice (TJ)—a set of measures like trials, truth commissions, reparations, and apologies—to address past human rights violations. Over 70 governments have implemented TJ since 1974, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.
Bridging Injustice Gaps: Peace Enhancement at Conflict’s End (BIG PEACE), a research project at Gothenburg University, aims to understand whether TJ can foster reconciliation and lasting peace. Unlike many studies that focus on national-level policies, this project examines justice from the perspectives of those most affected—victims, former combatants, and local communities. It also questions the assumption that state-led justice is always the best approach, recognizing that in many war-torn societies, religious and tribal leaders play a crucial role in resolving disputes.
This study will take a data-driven approach, gathering insights through surveys, interviews, and experiments in multiple conflict-affected countries. It will explore key questions: What does justice mean to different people? Who do they trust to deliver justice? And how do perceptions of justice shape peace and stability?
By identifying patterns across cultures and conflicts, BIG PEACE seeks to provide practical recommendations for policymakers and peacebuilders. The goal is to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and develop a more inclusive, grassroots approach to justice—one that truly addresses the needs of war-torn societies and helps prevent future violence.
BIG PEACE examines justice from the perspectives of those most affected by conflict—victims, former combatants, and local communities. While some TJ mechanisms and processes may resonate broadly—yielding similar effects in many places and across many groups—others may require tailored approaches at the local level. Detailed case studies underscore this diversity of responses to TJ programming, yet lack generalizability and replicability. What we need are systematic, cross-national data on TJ processes from citizens’ perspectives to identify points of disagreement and areas of compromise. This data will allow for fine-grained analysis of the causes and consequences of (in)justice, defined as when a person feels an appropriate reaction or reparation for a wrong have(not) occurred.
The study seeks to understand: Do TJ mechanisms lead to feelings of justice? Can justice foster reconciliation between former adversaries? If so, for whom and under what conditions? And finally, do TJ processes need to be tailored to each specific conflict, or can broader lessons be drawn across diverse populations, cultures, and contexts?
Funded by: The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (7.5 Million SEK/ 807K USD) with additional funding from the University of Gothenburg (3.75 Million SEK/403K USD).
