Conceptualising the transformative justice potential of peace processes

Proponents of transformative justice articulate an approach to dealing with the past that seeks to change pre-conflict structures in ways that make society more inclusive and equal in the future. However, a criticism arises that transformative justice has been better at diagnosing the limitations associated with transitional justice rather than defining solutions and pathways to achieve its primary objectives. This paper examines the potential for peace agreement processes- understood to comprise peace agreements, peace negotiations, and peace agreement implementation- to advance the core aims transformative justice. In theory, peace agreement processes offer a sense of tangibility to the transformative justice project, existing as critical junctures where the underpinnings of structural violence can be addressed. At the same time, transformative justice offers a lens through which to interrogate the actuality of peace agreement processes, highlighting the challenges associated with realising their transformative justice potential in practice. The paper ultimately argues that greater attention could be paid to the potentially mutually reinforcing relationship between peace agreements and transformative justice.