Knowledge for peace : transitional justice and the politics of knowledge in theory and practice [introductory chapter to book]

This introduction to the book “Knowledge for Peace: Transitional Justice and the Politics of Knowledge in Theory and Practice” explores the overall themes of the book from the perspective of the existing scholarship. These themes center around the transitional justice norm, its emergence and diffusion, the notion of knowledge imperialism or the unequal power relations involved in producing knowledge in and on transitional justice processes, and the ‘local’ in debates around transitional justice knowledge production. It also highlights the research-policy-practice nexus which has often been criticized for blurring the lines between different knowledges and ways of producing and using knowledge. The chapter then explores the central contributions of the book: The interlinkages between the processes and politics of knowledge production, the ways in which these interlinkages shape the politics of knowledge production, and how these set the boundaries of what transitional justice processes, institutions and policies are imagined and enacted. In doing so, particular attention is given to the research-policy-practice nexus, reflecting on how these communities interact, how they are distinguished, and their relevance for the politics of knowledge for justice and peacebuilding