Individual Engagement in Transitional Justice

In the final two chapters we return to the role of the individual in promoting transitional justice. A holistic approach for the individual to support transitional justice is prescribed that involves the individual in mind and deed. Individuals need to self-assess their moral sympathies to determine if they are prepared to support transitional justice. Likewise, they must self-access the social and political climate of their times and society. These first two steps represent a significant exercise in agent autonomy. While the exercise of one’s autonomy can be taxing, exercising autonomy for peace is a praiseworthy end. The individual will be reversing some of the ill effects and societal tainting that a genocide incurs. To complete the operations, the individual must reject societal training in racism and injustice, and the individual must fairly appraise the political climate of his or her environment. Once these steps of self-assessment are completed, they should perform the behaviors that will promote transitional justice in their times and society.