The Relationship between Sustainable Peace and Transitional Justice

Abstract

Lawlessness and widespread criminality are inevitable consequences in societies where political systems have collapsed into failed states. Afghanistan, ranked among the world’s most unstable countries from the 1990s onwards, has experienced decades of conflict marked by war crimes, crimes against humanity, and even acts of genocide committed by various factions. To address such lawlessness, it is essential to uphold the rule of law, establish justice and peace, and implement transitional justice as key components of national recovery. However, since the 2001 Bonn Agreement, the international community and the United Nations have largely prioritised peacebuilding over transitional justice in Afghanistan.
This research examines the relationship between sustainable peace and the implementation of transitional justice, drawing on comparative experiences from societies with similar post-conflict trajectories. The findings demonstrate that transitional justice is not an obstacle to lasting peace but rather a vital complement—indeed, the foundation and guarantor of its endurance.