Northeast African Studies invites submissions for a special issue on Transitional Justice in the Context of Somalia to be guest edited by Dr. Rahma Abdulkadir, Research Assistant Professor of Political Science, Division of Social Science, New York University Abu Dhabi & Ms. Fowsia Abdulkadir, Doctoral Candidate, School of Canadian Studies, Carleton University. This special issue is targeted for Fall 2013 or Spring 2014

Among the questions this special issue seeks to address are:

How can transitional justice be achieved in Somalia as it is today (i.e. there has been no functioning government in Somalia for twenty years)?

Who/what outside of the state (central or local) body of authority would have legitimacy to engage in processes of conflict resolution in general and in addressing crimes against humanity in particular? How would such agent(s) of change operate? What will be the benefits of and challenges to having such actors?

What would be the role(s) of the Sharia, Xeer (Somali Customary Law) and International Human Rights Law in the processes of creating conflict resolution mechanisms in general and in addressing crimes against humanity in Somalia?

Different case studies (e.g. Rwanda and Former Yugoslavia) have shown that international war crimes tribunals can have significant positive contribution towards reconciliation and peace building, even as such international tribunals have their critics. Is there a need for an international war crimes tribunal for Somalia? How would an international tribunal for war crimes positively contribute to post-conflict reconstruction in this war torn country?

Given the Somali population’s experiences with foreign interventions in Somali affairs over the past two decades, what do Somalis think about the risks and advantages of international involvement in the process of reconciliation and transitional justice?

The deadline for abstract submission is Nov. 1, 2012. Full papers must be submitted by January 30, 2013.

Please email abstracts to rahma@nyu.edu or fowsia@sympatico.ca

http://msupress.msu.edu/journals/neas/