Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, Vol 30(4), Nov 2024, 495-506; doi:10.1037/pac0000738
In the aftermath of armed conflicts, many countries face significant socioeconomic inequalities that often stem from societal divisions based on ethnicity, religion, region, or caste systems. Transitional justice (TJ) has emerged due to the need to respond to widespread human rights violations and the grievances caused by the armed conflict. Prior work has established a strong positive relationship between horizontal inequalities (HIs) and the occurrence of civil conflicts. Yet previous research has largely overlooked how these inequalities evolve in postconflict countries that implement TJ measures to address past violations. This article investigates the impact of TJ on HIs and argues that TJ can help reduce HIs by influencing three main factors that make conflict more likely: grievance, opportunity, and identity. By examining the levels of accessibility of services and exclusion among social groups following the implementation of TJ, this study is the first to conduct a quantitative analysis of the TJ–HIs relationship. The findings suggest a consistent positive relationship between TJ and multiple measures of HIs that disappears when control variables are included. Ultimately, the findings contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the design and implementation of effective TJ strategies that promote social inclusivity, diminish disparities, and foster sustainable peace and development in postconflict societies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)