Berkley Center

Edited by Daniel Philpott, The Politics of Past Evil: Religion, Reconciliation, and the Dilemmas of Transitional Justice considers the transitional process of former tyrannical and dictatorial regimes into democracy and the role of religion in the process of reconciliation with past injustices. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the contributors discuss the transitional experiences of Germany, South Africa, Argentina, and Northern Ireland. Recognizing that the participants of these societies are often religious, the contributors argue that religion and religious actors should have a prominent role in the difficult but crucial process of reconciliation. For this reason, the case studies share a theological orientation as their common denominator. Such a comprehensive approach to reconciliation, which includes questions of forgiveness and healing, is necessary if the country is to move beyond its past evils into a successful future.