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Political stability is one of the paramount concepts in deeply divided and
post-conflict societies, and its clearer determination in scientific
literature is questionable for several reasons. First, the difference in
political-social contexts of political stability is neglected, that is, the
difference between the consolidated democratic societies and deeply
divided/post-conflict societies with newly established or renewed democratic
institutions, or a recently ended war. Secondly, due to the frequent
normative elements, the ways of the operationalization of concepts are
difficult to identify. Thirdly, political stability often serves as a synonym
for the substantially different concepts, such as democratic stability,
long-lasting peace and democratization. Political stability is a fundamental
concept that more precisely emphasizes the problems faced by deeply divided
and post-conflict societies, and precedes other concepts that can only be
subsequently tested, provided there is a satisfactory level of stability. In
this paper, we have applied a conceptual reconstruction of the term by
extracting from the authoritative definitions forming a background concept of
political stability, those basic elements that create a systematized concept
adaptable to the generalization of cases of divided and post-conflict
societies. Considering that the authoritative definitions refer to the
political stability in stable democratic societies, we have extracted the
most significant characteristics from the named definitions and inserted them
into an appropriate theoretical framework. That theoretical framework emerges
from debate on the institutional engineering and conflict management in
deeply divided and post-conflict societies where institutional mechanisms of
the distribution of political power take central place. In that way, we have
reached a systematized concept of the stability of political institutions,
where political institutions mean institutions which enable political elites
of opposing groups to share the power. In the most general sense, it is a
comprehensive concept of power sharing, containing sub-types,
consociationalism and centripetalism. We have defined the concept of
stability of political institutions as a stability of institutions of
horizontal and vertical power which, as basic elements of institutional
arrangements of power-sharing, enable its functioning and longevity. We have
specified the meaning of stability of political institutions through the
presence of three attributes or defining characteristics that attach meaning
to the concept. Those three attributes are: 1) acceptance of the
power-sharing political arrangement by political elites; 2) continuity of its
constituent parts; 3) system?s ability to cope with changes coming from
within or outside the system and which are aimed at its constituent parts.
The concept of stability of political institutions, systematized in this way,
is a guideline for a more accurate emphasis of a particular segment of
political reality; it enables a theoretically more informative and distinct
analysis.

This volume critically considers the manner in which post-dictatorial and post-conflict states are addressing past human rights violations through judicial accountability. The book's main objectives concern a fresh, contemporary, and critical analysis of transitional criminal justice as a concept and its related measures, beginning with the initiatives that have been put in place with the fall of the Communist regimes in Europe in 1989. By transitional criminal justice we understand mechanisms of judicial accountability carried out in post-dictatorial or post-conflict states in order to address past human rights abuses. In addition to trials, the concept also refers to cases where criminal law mediates other measures of accountability. The project argues for rethinking and revisiting filters that scholars use to interpret key issues of transitional criminal justice, such as: (1) the relationship between judicial accountability, democratisation and politics in transitional societies; (2) the role of successor trials in rewriting history; (3) the interaction between domestic and international actors and norms in shaping transitional justice; and (4) the paradox of time in enhancing accountability. In order to accomplish this, the volume considers cases of domestic accountability in the post-1989 era, from different geographical areas, such as Europe, Asia and Africa, in relation to key events from various periods of time. In this way the approach, which investigates space and time-lines in key examples, also takes into account a longitudinal study of transitional criminal justice itself.

Implicit conceptions of time associated with progress and linearity have influenced scholars and practitioners in the fields of transitional justice and peacebuilding, but time and temporality have rarely been systematically considered. Time and Temporality in Transitional and Post-Conflict Societies examines how time is experienced, constructed and used in transitional and post-conflict societies. This collection critically questions linear, transitional justice time and highlights the different temporalities that exist at local and institutional levels through original empirical research. Presenting empirical and often ethnographic research from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cambodia, Mozambique, Palestine/Israel, Rwanda and South Africa, contributors use a temporal lens to investigate key issues including: transitional justice institutions, peace processes, victimhood, perpetrators, accountability, reparations, forgiveness, reconciliation and memoralisation.

This volume considers the important and timely question of criminal justice as a method of addressing state violence committed by non-democratic regimes. The book's main objectives concern a fresh, contemporary, and critical analysis of transitional criminal justice as a concept and its related measures, beginning with the initiatives that have been put in place with the fall of the Communist regimes in Europe in 1989.The project argues for rethinking and revisiting filters that scholars use to interpret main issues of transitional criminal justice, such as: the relationship between judicial accountability, democratisation and politics in transitional societies; the role of successor trials in rewriting history; the interaction between domestic and international actors and specific initiatives in shaping transitional justice; and the paradox of time in enhancing accountability for human rights violations. In order to accomplish this, the volume considers cases of domestic accountability in the post-1989 era, from different geographical areas, such as Europe, Asia and Africa, in relation to key events from various periods of time. In this way the approach, which investigates space and time-lines in key examples, also takes into account a longitudinal study of transitional criminal justice itself. About the book'Transitional justice nowadays is an industry which produces hundreds of texts each year and it is difficult to turn our attention to an intellectual product. This book is well-balanced and will find recognition in readers and students of transitional justice, as well as researchers on social transformation. It is a collection in the best tradition of socio-legal research. The book is recommended for two reasons: its serious treatment of criminal justice as a part of transitional justice, and its approach, which locates the problem of transitional justice in post-communist Europe in a broader, comparative context.' Prof. Dr. Adam Czarnota, Scientific Director of the International Institute for the Sociology of Law, Oati, Spain'By carefully considering how criminal justice relates to democratization, collective memory, internationalist concerns, and the passage of time since violations occurred, this volume contributes importantly to the evolving transitional justice literature. The questions it raises are timely and theoretically grounded, and the choice of cases diverse and illuminating. Its authors richly contextualize their examinations, complemen ...

Overhaus, M.: Editorial: Germany and the conundrums of post-conflict restruction. - S. 1-5. Mehler, A.: German post-conflict restruction efforts in Africa. Are the relevant questions addressed? - S. 6-11. Klaiber, K.-P.: Political and economic reconstruction in Afghanistan. - S. 12-15. Kühne, B.: Post-conflict reconstruction in South Eastern Europe. The Stability Pact for SEE as an instrument of crisis prevention. - S. 16-20