Key Resources on Social and Political Reconciliation
in Southern Africa

Chris Colvin

This research forms part of a study "Southern Africa Reconciliation Project" funded by the International Development Research Centre. It was a collaborative project involving CSVR (South Africa), the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (Malawi), the National Society for Human Rights (Namibia), Amani Trust (Zimbabwe) and Justa Paz (Mozambique).

Outline of Bibliography NGOs and Research Centres Working in Reconciliation International Organisations Regional Organisations and Programmes Country-Specific Organisations and Programmes Academic Resources General Theoretical, Comparative and Historical Overviews Regional and Comparative Research on Reconciliation in Southern Africa Country-Specific Research on Reconciliation Legislation and Government Reports Journals Online Bibliographies on Reconciliation

 
 

1. NGOs and Research Centres Working in Reconciliation

International Organisations

International Conflict Research (INCORE), University of Ulster, Northern Ireland and United Nations University
Centre for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Coventry University, UK
International Center for Transitional Justice, USA
Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, USA
Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, Fresno Pacific University, USA
Centre for Peace and Development, University of Limerick, Ireland
Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, Sweden
International Fellowship of Reconciliation, The Netherlands
International Conflict Resolution Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia
Conciliation Resources, UK

ACCORD Series

United States Institute of Peace, USA

PeaceWatch Newsletter

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Sweden

Regional Organisations

Southern African NGO Network (SANGONet)
Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
Peace-building, Healing and Reconciliation Programme (PHARP), Kenya and Rwanda
Centre for Conflict Resolution, South Africa
Research and Teaching on Human Rights, Gender Issues and Democracy in Southern Africa, Namibia
Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, South Africa
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, South Africa
Pan-African Reconciliation Centre & African Centre for Peace Education, Nigeria
Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA), Kenya
Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, California State University, Sacramento
Southern African Research and Documentation Centre

Country-Specific Organisations

Malawi

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation
Human Rights Artists Club
Youth Watch Society
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Malawi
Association for Dialogue and Reconciliation
Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre
Youth Net and Counselling

Mozambique

JustaPaz - Centre for Conflict Transformation
Associação para o desenvolvimento e cooperação de Moçambique (ADECOMA)
Associação moçambicana de reintegração e pesquisa social (AMOREPESO)
Associação para a promoção do desenvolvimento economico e socio cultural (MBEU)
Associação dos direitos humanos e desenvolvimento (DHD)
Lega dos direitos humanos (LDH)
Organização de desenvolvimento comunitario (OPDC)

Namibia

Human Rights and Documentation Centre (HRDC)
Southern African HR NGOs Network (SAHRINGON)
National Society for Human Rights
Peace Centre/Project for the Study of Violence

South Africa

National Peace Accord Trust
Black Sash Trust
Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Institute for Healing of Memories
Khulumani Support Group
U Managing Conflict
Direct Action Centre for Peace and Memory
Human Rights Media Centre
Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture
Themba LeSizwe (Trauma Counselling)
Sinani KwaZulu-Natal Programme for Survivors of Violence

Zimbabwe

Amani Trust
Legal Resources Foundation

 

2. Academic Resources

General Theoretical, Comparative and Historical Overviews

Shriver, Donald W. Jr. (1995) An Ethic for Enemies: Forgiveness in Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Minow, Martha. Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: Facing History After Genocide and Mass Violence, Boston: Beacon Press, 1998.

Kritz, Neil J., ed. Transitional Justice: How Emerging Democracies Reckon with Former Regimes. 3 vols. Washington, D.C., United States Institute of Peace, 1995.

Reconciliation, justice, and coexistence: theory & practice / [edited by] Mohammed Abu-Nimer.

Shattered voices : language, violence, and the work of truth commissions / Teresa Godwin Phelps.

Burying the past : making peace and doing justice after civil conflict / Nigel Biggar, editor.

Dilemmas of reconciliation : cases and concepts / edited by Carol A.L. Prager and Trudy Govier.

Bar-On, Dan, ed. Bridging the Gap: Storytelling as a Way to Work Through Political and Collective Hostilities. Hamburg: Korber-Stiftung, 2000.

Politics of memory : truth, healing, and social justice / edited by Ifi Amadiume and Abdullahi An-Na'im.

Mea culpa : a sociology of apology and reconciliation / Nicholas Tavuchis.

Justice and Reconciliation: After the Violence, Andrew Rigby.

Beyond the neoliberal peace: From conflict resolution to social reconciliation. Ronnie D Lipschutz. Social Justice. San Francisco: Winter 1998. Vol. 25, Iss. 4; p. 5 (15 pages).

Lethe's law : justice, law and ethics in reconciliation / edited by Emilios Christodoulidis and Scott Veitch.

Unspeakable Truths: Confronting State Terror and Atrocity, Priscilla Hayner, Routledge, 2001.

To remember and to heal : theological and psychological reflections on truth and reconciliation / edited by H. Russel Botman and Robin M. Petersen.

Reconciliation After Violent Conflict: A Handbook, D. Bloomfield, T. Barnes and L. Huyse (eds.), Stockholm: International IDEA, 2003.

Reconciliation and the search for a shared moral landscape : an exploration based upon a study of Northern Ireland and South Africa / Maria Ericson.

Chayes Antonia, and Martha Minow, ed. Imagine Coexistence: Restoring Humanity After Violent Ethnic Conflict. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.

War and reconciliation: reason and emotion in conflict resolution / William J. Long and Peter Brecke.

When the Powers Fall: Reconciliation in the Healing of Nations, Walter Wink.

From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation, Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov (Editor).

After the peace : resistance and reconciliation / edited by Robert L. Rothstein.

Regional and Comparative Research on Reconciliation in Southern Africa

From Conflict to Peace in a Changing World: Social Reconstruction in Times of Transition. Eade, Deborah, ed. 1998. Oxford: Oxfam Publishing.

Adedeji, Adebayo, ed. Comprehending and Mastering African Conflicts: The Search for Sustainable Peace and Good Governance. London: Zed Books, 1999.

Fowler, Alan. The Role of NGOs in Changing State-Society Relations. Perspectives from Eastern and Southern Africa. Development Policy Review, 9(1):53-84.

Buijtenhijs, Rob & Elly Rijnierse (1993). Democratisation in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Studies Center, Leiden.

Assefa, Hizkias. Peace and Reconciliation as A Paradigm: A Philosophy of Peace and Its Implications on Conflict, Governance and Economic Growth in Africa. Nairobi, Kenya: Africa Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Network, hizkias@africaonline.co.ke 2000. (translated into French, Spanish and Kirundi).

Through fire with water : the roots of division and the potential for reconciliation in Africa / edited by Erik Doxtader and Charles Villa-Vicencio.

Measuring Democracy and Human Rights in Southern Africa, Discussion Paper (Nordic Africa Institute) by Yul Derek Davids.

Civil Society, The State And Conflicts In Africa, Hussein Solomon and Sally Matthews.

Lessons From Conflict Mediation in Southern Africa and the Role of Civil Society, Hussein Solomon.

The Role of Civil Society in Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation in Africa, Hussein Solomon.

Liberation in Southern Africa - Regional and Swedish Voices: Interviews from Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Frontline and Sweden, Tor Sellstrom.

Government Confronts Culture: The Struggle for Local Democracy in Southern Africa (States and Societies) by Bruce Fuller.

Reconciliation and Reconstruction in South and Southern Africa, Geoffrey Denton.

Democracy and reconciliation: a challenge for African Christianity / ed. by Laurenti Magesa and Zablon Nthamburi.

In the name of the rainbow : politics of reconciliation as a priority of social pastoral care in South Africa and Malawi / Joseph Matthew Mfutso-Bengo.

Rwanda and South Africa in dialogue : addressing the legacies of genocide and a crime against humanity / edited by Charles Villa-Vicencio and Tyrone Savage.

Burden of memory, the muse of forgiveness / Wole Soyinka.

Justice, reconciliation and peace in Africa / David W. Shenk ; foreword, Prof. John S. Mbiti, appendix, Bishop Festo Kivengere.

Democracy in Southern Africa: Moving Beyond a Difficult Legacy, Roger Southall, Review of African Political Economy No.96:255-272.

Building democracy: an examination of religious associations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, Tracy Kuperus, The Journal of Modern African Studies, 37, 4 (1999), pp. 643.

Towards Understanding New Forms of State Rule in [Southern] Africa in the Era of Globalization, Michael Neocosmos, African Journal of Political Science, Vol. 6, No. 2 (2001).

Governance for reconstruction in Africa: challenges for policy communities and coalitions, Pamela Mbabazi, Sandra J. MacLean & Timothy M. Shaw, Global Networks: A Journal of Transnational Affairs, Volume 2 Issue 1 Page 31 - January 2002.

Democracy and Conflict in Post-apartheid Southern Africa: Dilemmas of Social Change in Small States Matlosa K., International Affairs, April 1998, vol. 74, iss. 2, pp. 319-337(19).

Southern Africa And Democracy, In The Light Of The Harare Declaration, Hasu Patel, The Round Table (2000), 357 (585–592).

Peacebuilding and the New Regionalism in southern Africa, Sandra J Maclean, Third World Quarterly, Vol 20, No 5, Pp 943± 956, 1999.

Country-Specific Research on Reconciliation

Malawi

Malawi's process of democratic transition: An analysis of political developments between 1990 and 2003 Heiko Meinhardt, Nandini Patel.

Mozambique

Matonse, Antonio (1992). Mozambique: A Painful Reconciliation. Africa Today, 39:29-34.

A Complicated War: The Harrowing of Mozambique (Perspectives on South Africa) by William Finnegan.

The Mozambican Peace Process: An (Over)Abundance of Lessons, Minter W., Peace & Change, April 2000, vol. 25, iss. 2, pp. 300-304(5).

The Peace Process and the Construction of Reconciliation Post Conflict – The Experience Of Mozambique Iraê Baptista Lundin.

Namibia

Politics of reconciliation, Namibian style. : An article from: The Christian Century [HTML] by Roy J. Enquist.

National reconciliation in Namibia: The response of the political parties by Douglas George Anglin.

Namibia: Peace, reconciliation, and development by Osei G Kofi.

Tapscott, Chris (1993). National Reconciliation, Social Equity and Class Formation in Independent Namibia. Journal of Southern African Studies, 19(1):29-39.

Unravelling Reconciliation and Justice? Land and the Potential for Conflict in Namibia, Pankhurst D. Peace & Change, April 2000, vol. 25, iss. 2, pp. 239-254(16).

From Controlled Change to Changed Control: The Case of Namibia, Henning Melber.

South Africa

Commissioning the past : understanding South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission / [edited by Deborah Posel and Graeme Simpson].

After the TRC : reflections on truth and reconciliation in South Africa / edited by Wilmot James and Linda van de Vijver.

Reconciliation : restoring justice / John W. de Gruchy.

Reconciliation through truth : a reckoning of apartheid's criminal governance / Kader Asmal, Louise Asmal & Ronald Suresh Roberts.

Tristan Anne Borer, Reconciliation in South Africa: Defining Success

Overcoming Apartheid: Can truth reconcile a divided nation? James L Gibson

Chris Spies, A Safe Space: How Local Leaders Can Make Room for Reconciliation. Centre for Conflict Resolution

van der Merwe, Hugo, Polly Dewhirst and Brandon Hamber (1998) "The Relationship Between Peace/Conflict Resolution Organisations and the TRC: An Impact Assessment," Paper prepared for the International Study of Peace Organisations - SA, funded by the Aspen Institute.

Gibson, James and Gouws, Amanda. "Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa: Attributions for Blame and the Struggle over Apartheid." 1998. Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

van der Merwe, H.W. (1994) "Restitution after Apartheid: From Revenge to Forgiveness", Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Inaugural Issue.

Hamber, Brandon, Nageng, Dineo & O'Malley, Gabriel. "Telling it like it is: Understanding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from the Survivor's Perspective." On the CSVR website.

Van der Merwe, Hugo. "National and Community Reconciliation: Competing Agendas in the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission." in Burying the Past: Making Peace and Doing Justice after Civil Conflict, ed. Nigel Biggar. Georgetown University Press: Washington, DC.

Edelstein, Jayni. "Rights, Reparations and Reconciliation: Some Comparative Notes." Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. 1994. Available on the CSVR website.

Politics of truth and reconciliation in South Africa : legitimizing the post-apartheid state / Richard A. Wilson.

Provocations of amnesty : memory, justice, and impunity / edited by Charles Villa-Vicencio and Erik Doxtader.

Race and reconciliation : essays from the new South Africa / Daniel Herwitz.

Zimbabwe

De Waal, Victor (1990). The Politics of Reconciliation. Zimbabwe's First Decade. Hurst & Co. London.

Reconciling Relationships while Pursuing Justice: The Case Of Land Redistribution in Zimbabwe, McCandless E., Peace & Change, April 2000, vol. 25, iss. 2, pp. 225-238(14).

Kriger, Norma J. (1995) "The Politics of Creating National Heroes: The Search for Political Legitimacy and National Identity," in Nawabi Bhebe and Terrence Ranger (eds.) Soldiers in Zimbabwe's Liberation War, University of Zimbabwe Publications, Harare.

Brickhill, Jeremy (1995). Making Peace with the Past: War Victims and the Work of the Mafela Trust. In Nawabi Bhebe and Terrence Ranger eds. Soldiers in Zimbabwe's Liberation War. University of Zimbabwe Publications, Harare.

Werbner, Richard (1995). Human Rights and Moral Knowledge: Arguments of Accountability in Zimbabwe. In Marilyn Strathern ed. Shifting Contexts. Transformations in Anthropological Knowledge, Routledge, NY.

Carver, Richard (1989) Zimbabwe: A Break with the Past? Human Rights and Political Unity, Africa Watch, New York.

Zimbabwe: Why Reconciliation Failed, Luc Huyse, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

 

3. Legislation and Government Reports

Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act (Act No. 34 of 1995) Truth and Reconciliation Homepage.

• Truth and Reconciliation Final Report (Volumes 1-5)
• Truth and Reconciliation Final Report (Volumes 6-7)

 

4. Journals

Peace and Change
Development Southern Africa
Development in Practice
Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology
The Online Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution
Peace, Conflict and Development (online)
Africa Peace Review
PeaceWatch (online)
Social Justice
Peace Review: A journal of Social Justice

 

5. Online Bibliographies on Reconciliation

INCORE guide to Internet Sources

• on Restorative Justice and Conflict
• on Truth and Reconciliation

International Courts and Tribunals Bibliography

Transitional Justice Literature Database at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions: A Review Essay and Annotated Bibliography, Kevin Avruch and Beatriz Vejarano, OJPCR: The Online Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution 4.2: 37-76 (2002).

International Internet Bibliography on Transitional Justice: A selected bibliography with special focus on Germany and South Africa, Gunnar Theissen.

War Crimes/Truth and Reconciliation Commissions/Truth and Reconciliation in Africa/South Africa compiled by Molly Ryan.

Compiled September 2005

© Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation