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I cannot do justice to the rich and thoughtful comments on my essay “Dealing with Painful Memories and Violent Pasts: Towards a Framework for Contextual Understanding” in this short response. The respondents who so graciously shared their thoughts have provided much to consider; I can only touch on the implications. I will not dwell on the commonalities in the approaches put forward by the commentators and myself, but rather focus on the divergences or elaborations posed by their insightful comments.

• Year2016
• Author(s)Brandon Hamber

In all the post-war regions in which we engaged – together with a variety of partners – over the past two decades, we faced the crucial question of how to deal with traumatic experiences, painful memories and war-related identities. In many societies emerging from war, people are constantly dealing with the past in one way or another, although with diverging and often even opposing purposes. Transitional justice strategies have become an important element of post-war reconstruction programmes established by international organisations and donors. Recommendations for these programmes tend to include war crimes prosecution by international, hybrid or domestic courts, truth commissions, lustration of state administrations, symbolic reparations or material compensation, as well as psychosocial support for those affected by the wars, incentives for societal dialogue, or initiatives that provide space for “working through” or alternative views on history. However, there is still a lack of knowledge of how the different transitional justice approaches impact on societies affected by violence, on groups as well as individuals.

• Year2016

This paper provides key insights on the concept, design and tailoring of I4P processes to national contexts. It also looks at the experiences of five different countries where efforts were made to nurture such peace structures - South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia, Nepal and Thailand (Deep South), and provides comparative insight from the design and implementation of particular components of I4P, in particular national dialogues, local peace committees and insider mediation. Finally, it elaborates on recommendations to improve the role UNDP can play in promoting and supporting I4P- both in conceptual terms and in practice. It was published in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC).

• Year2016
• Author(s)Hans-Joachim Giessmann

Laporan ini menyoroti salah satu pelaku kunci dalam proses perdamaian: mediator orang dalam. Dasar laporan ini adalah pengalaman bahwa sebagian besar proses perdamaian resmi dimulai atau dilengkapi oleh proses informal, yang kerap difasilitasi oleh orang-orang dari daerah konflik, yang memiliki pengetahuan mendalam dan dedikasi besar untuk menyelesaikan konflik.

Untuk mengeksplorasi peran spesifik, potensi dan batasan mediator “orang dalam” lokal dan regional dalam proses perdamaian saat ini, Berghof Foundation for Peace Support (BPS) bekerja sama dengan Mediation Support Project dari Swisspeace/CSS-ETH Zurich mengundang belasan mediator orang dalam dari berbagai bagian dunia (Algeria, Burundi, Kongo, Jerman, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Makedonia, Mali, Meksiko, Nepal, Filipina, Sri Lanka, Swiss dan Uganda).

• Year2016
• Author(s)Simon Mason

The book presents empirical studies, theoretical discussions, and practical experience from initiatives for dealing with the past in the region of former Yugoslavia. It engages scholars and practitioners from the region, as well as international experts, to reflect on the achievements in transitional justice and obstacles that characterise efforts to deal with the past. Drawing variously on empirical studies, theoretical discussions, and practical experience, their contributions offer invaluable insights into the complex relationship between transitional justice and conflict transformation.

• Year2016

The policy brief examines different approaches and initiatives for transitional justice and reconciliation that have been implemented since the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) ended the war in Bosnia in 1995. It highlights achievements and innovative approaches in processes of dealing with the past as well as shortcomings and obstacles for reconciliation.

• Year2016
• Author(s)Martina Fischer

Reflects on the role of different approaches for dealing with painful memories and violent pasts. The author explores how different dimensions – interpersonal and intergroup relations, memories and identities at the individual and collective level – relate to one another. He also addresses how one can constructively address victim identities and cultures of victimhood that may stem from painful or traumatic experiences in light of his work in South Africa and Northern Ireland, among other locales.

• Year2015
• Author(s)Brandon Hamber

Analysing the role and meaning of inclusivity in the context of different National Dialogue processes around the world, this paper addresses five core dilemmas of National Dialogue processes, including tensions related to effectiveness, representation, legitimacy, power balances and ownership.

The paper concludes by drawing a balance between the challenges and benefits of inclusivity in National Dialogues.

• Year2015
• Author(s)Katrin Planta, Vanessa Prinz, Luxshi Vimalarajah

This report analyses the negotiation and codification process of a new political settlement in Aceh, based on the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Government and the Law on Governing Aceh passed the following year. It addresses various aspects related to inclusivity in the Acehnese political settlement, and is guided by the following questions: How did the Aceh peace process deal with the issues of participation and representation? What were the key substantive demands of the Acehnese people and how were they negotiated by the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka – GAM) on their behalf? What impact did the peace agreement have on constructing an inclusive Aceh and rectifying the imbalanced centre-periphery relationship between Jakarta and Aceh?

• Year2015
• Author(s)Agus Wandi, Nezar Patria

Brandon Hamber’s essay addresses two important questions: “What is the role of different approaches for dealing with painful memories and violent pasts?” and “How do the different dimensions – interpersonal and intergroup relations, memories, and identities at the individual and collective level – relate to one another?” (Hamber 2015, 2). These questions open up a universe of additional topics related to the cultural context, societal preconditions and obstacles to dealing with the past in post-war societies. I read his remarks against the background of my field of work in the South Caucasus. Here I engage as a historian, having specialised in Soviet and post-Soviet war memory, and as a dialogue practitioner striving to make use of scientific concepts and findings for establishing a sound and resilient peacebuilding system in the region.

• Year2015
• Author(s)Andrea Zemskov-Zuege