Rule of Law in Iraq and Afghanistan: Building a “Culture of Rules” From the Bottom Up
On March 27, President Barack Obama addressed the nation regarding his proposed “Development, Diplomacy and Defense” approach to addressing the “increasingly perilous” threat of Al Qaeda. Although his plan includes increased military presence in Afghanistan, he also emphasized the importance of developing the institutional infrastructure from the “bottom up” so that local actors will invest in the economic, political, and legal reforms of their nation.
As I listened to Obama on NPR, I noted how he referred to many of the same concepts and issues I teach in “Comparative Study of Transitional Justice.” This course exposes students to different case studies of how countries have tackled the arduous task of transitioning from conflict and repression to peace and stability. In particular, we have discussed the use of truth commissions and criminal trials as mechanisms used by nations like Peru, Chile, and South Africa, among others, to address past legacies of human rights violations. Often these measures seek to promote both reconciliation and the rule of law.